Arsene Wenger has confirmed both Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey will definitely miss Thursday’s Europa League opener against FC Koln.
The Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the Frenchman’s 20-year reign after finishing outside the top four in the Premier League last season.
After playing against the Bundesliga side at the Emirates on Thursday, Arsenal face the daunting prospect of traveling to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, a venue at which they haven’t tasted victory since a Robin van Persie hat-trick inspired a 5-3 win six years ago.
With Sunday’s London derby in mind, Wenger is certain to mix up his team selection tomorrow and revealed both Ramsey and Ozil will be granted a rest following their hectic starts to the new domestic and international season.
‘On the injury front there are no big problems, there are a few players who have had a response to the fact they have played in two international games like Ozil and Ramsey who are rested completely. Overall the situation is not too bad.
‘Coquelin is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.’
Wenger also dismissed the notion that regular Thusrday night football would have an adverse effect on their domestic form, as it did for Manchester United last term, who won Europe’s second tier competition but could only manage a sixth placed finish in the Premier League.
‘Two season ago we played on Wednesday night at Nou Camp and won on Saturday morning at Everton.
‘We must be careful we don’t get caught in preconceived ideas. In three days you can recover.’
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