Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Olivier Giroud set to miss Arsenal vs Tottenham as Arsene Wenger delivers injury update for north London derby

Wenger will also give late fitness tests to Shkodran Mustafi and Danny Welbeck

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 16 November 2017 10:56 GMT

✕

Santi Cazorla injury the worst Arsene Wenger has seen

Olivier Giroud is set to miss the first north London derby of the season after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger all but ruled the striker out of this weekend’s visit of Tottenham Hotspur.

The 31-year-old suffered a thigh injury in France’s 2-0 victory over Wales last Friday, with the striker being substituted just two minute after scoring the second goal, and after returning to his club for further assessment, Wenger revealed that Giroud is unlikely to feature this weekend.

However, he did confirm that it is a short-term issue and he should be available again next week.

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Show all 23

1/23Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Who impressed as Pep Guardiola's side beat Unai Emery's at the Etihad Stadium?

The Independent

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Ederson - 8 out of 10

Came off his line superbly to beat Aubameyang to the ball. Little he could do to prevent Koscielny’s equaliser.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Kyle Walker - 6 out of 10

An improvement on some recent performances. Comfortable when in a back three after playing the same role with England.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Nicolas Otamendi - 6 out of 10

A forceful presence at the back, sometimes too forceful. One robust first-half challenge on Lacazette went unnoticed.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Aymeric Laporte - 7 out of 10

Picks up a rare assist, crossing for Aguero’s first, then saw a goal disallowed for offside. Covered well for Sterling, who was alone on the left flank.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Fernandinho - 7 out of 10

Initially struggled to exert his usual control over the midfield in the first half, perhaps because he had to keep dropping back into defence, but improved.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Bernardo Silva - 7 out of 10

Out of position on the wing and less influential than he often is in a central role but still troubled Arsenal’s left side.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Ilkay Gundogan - 8 out of 10

Almost faultless when distributing the ball. A delicate chip over the top of the defence in the build-up to Aguero’s goal was his best.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

David Silva - 7 out of 10

Not masterful from Il Mago but an all-round improvement on his display at St James’ Park, sprinkled with the odd special touch or pass.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Kevin De Bruyne - 6 out of 10

Did not have his usual influence on the game. An off-day though hardly anything to be concerned about.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Raheem Sterling - 8 out of 10

Created two of Aguero’s three, ghosting superbly behind Lichtsteiner for the second. Asked to cover the entire left flank but did not look out of place.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Sergio Aguero - 9 out of 10

Header, right foot, left arm. An unconventional hat-trick but his 14th in City colours. The wrong side of 30 now but his predatory instincts have not waned.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Bernd Leno - 6 out of 10

Dives too early and the wrong way for Aguero’s first but denied City impressively on several occasions after it.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Stephan Lichtsteiner - 5 out of 10

Caught out by Sterling’s intelligent movement, particularly on City’s second. Arsenal’s third-choice at right back and it showed.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Shkodran Mustafi - 6 out of 10

Equalises from Torreira corner, Monreal flick-on, but culpable for letting Aguero go at the far post for City’s crucial second.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 5 out of 10

Five yards behind the rest of the Arsenal defence for Aguero’s first, playing every City player onside, though perhaps did not anticipate Iwobi’s error.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Nacho Monreal - 7 out of 10

Neat near-post flick-on for Koscielny’s equaliser. Coped well enough with Bernardo despite being given little support.

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Alex Iwobi - 5 out of 10

Dispossessed deep in his own half by Laporte. Attempted to make up for his mistake and was tidy enough, though did little to atone.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Lucas Torreira - 8 out of 10

Made several key interceptions and tackles, especially as momentum shifted towards Arsenal in the first half.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Matteo Guendouzi - 7 out of 10

Poor start but did not hide and grew into the game as it went on. Largely shut down City’s midfield with Torreira until the game got away from Arsenal.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Sead Kolasinac - 6 out of 10

Stationed at left midfield but perhaps too adventurous for his full-back’s liking, with Monreal left one-on-one with Bernardo too often.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Alexandre Lacazette - 6 out of 10

Him and Aubameyang were sat strangely deep, bulking up Arsenal’s midfield, and this affected his ability to get forward.

Getty

Manchester City vs Arsenal player ratings

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 6 out of 10

As with Lacazette, often too deep to threaten, though a little brighter than his partner and Arsenal’s main threat on the counter-attack.

Getty

“Giroud picked up an injury, I don’t think he will be available,” Wenger said. “It’s short term, we have to assess him on Monday.”

Wenger also revealed that both Shkodran Mustafi and Danny Welbeck are in contention to return from injury, with fitness tests planned for Friday ahead of the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.

Giroud was forced off in France's 2-0 defeat of Wales with a thigh injury (Getty)

“Mustafi will have a final check tomorrow, Welbeck as well,” Wenger added. “I will make decisions on them tomorrow.”

With Giroud absent, Wenger could well restore Alexandre Lacazette to the side, despite showing a hesitancy so far this season in starting the France international in Premier League games against the rest of the ‘Big Six’ sides.

Wenger left the club-record £52m signing out of the starting line-up for the defeat by Manchester City earlier this month, with the striker making a point as he came on to score Arsenal’s only goal in the 3-1 loss, and the manager refused to confirm if he will give Lacazette a starting role this Saturday or leave him on the substitutes’ bench in favour of allowing Alexis Sanchez to lead the attack.

“He played many games Lacazette,” Wenger said. “Will he start on Saturday? The decision has not been made.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies