Arsene Wenger is resting SEVEN big names for Arsenal's Europa League opener with Cologne.

Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey all sat out training this morning and will not be involved.

Jack Wilshere trained and is set to start his first game for Arsenal in 13 months.

Alexis Sanchez may also start to boost his match fitness.

The Arsenal absentees will sit out tomorrow to be ready for Sunday's trip to Chelsea.

The Gunners boss speak to the media today - watch in full above.

Wenger press conference in full

On the team news

On the injury front, we have no big problems.

There are a few players who have some response to the fact they played two international games - like Ozil and Ramsey. They are rested completely

But overall the injury situation is not to bad.

Coquelin is out for three weeks.

On dealing with having to play on a Thursday night

Well, Wednesday night or Thursday night is no difference for us. Apart from the fact it is a different competition.

When you play Wednesday, Saturday it’s similar to Thursday and Saturday.

On Olivier Giroud’s contribution to Arsenal over the past five years

His contribution has been huge, he’s had a great evolution here.

Overall, his contribution to the club has been tremendous. He as shown a loyal spirit and has high respect from everybody inside at the club and as well the fans.

On Jack Wilshere

First of all, he has to continue to work with the spirit that he works and focuses.

I believe there was always a huge pressure on him to come back as quick as possible.

If he can keep calm and focus on his job then he is on a good way. In training he is getting stronger and stronger every day, that’s what we want from him.

He was injured so was a bit behind the other players, but now he is getting better and better.

Every game is an opportunity for him and this season is a good opportunity for him.

Will Wilshere start?

I don’t give the team out today, I will give it out tomorrow.

On no longer being the oldest manager in the Premier League (Roy Hodgson)

I’m happy for that, I’m not very happy De Boer has been sacked because I rate him highly.

Unfortunately it comes quicker and quicker.

On it being a challenge for 70-year-old Hodgson

I don’t look at the age, I look at the hunger of people and how much they want to do well.

On the Europa League being a good chance to qualify for the Europa League

It’s not the best chance, it is one of the opportunities.

I’ve said many times I think the best way to do it is through the Premier League.

This is a different competition and we want to win every competition we play in.

We don’t calculate that this is a way to qualify for the Champions League. We have done that for 20 years by doing it in the Premier League.

Does it hurt your ego being in the Europa League?

No. The disappointment of not finishing in the top four was there of course.

Unfortunately We were one point short, we got 75 points last season.

Overall I am humble enough to try and win every single competition.

On whether Sunday’s game at Chelsea will give you a guideline of how the team can cope with playing Thursday/Sunday

Yes. It’s a good opportunity to show we can do it.

We played on Wednesday night at Barcelona and then Saturday morning at Everton and we won.

You have to not get caught in your mind with preconceived ideas. Football is down to performance on the day.

In three days you can recover.

Is the team strong enough to win the Europa League?

Giroud asked about competition for places.

We have got at least two teams.

There is a lot of competition and we have enough players to keep the focus high and improve.

We have a good team on paper tomorrow.

Wenger on facing Chelsea

It is a good opportunity to show we can cope.

We played on Wednesday night in Barcelona and against Everton on Saturday morning.

It is a preconceived idea, football is down to how you perform on the day.

Three days is plenty of time to recover.

Blow to Arsenal's ego?

It was a disappointment to not finish in the top four.

Unfortunately, we were one point short.

I am humble enough to be happy to win every single competition.

On Europa League being best chance of CL qualification

Not the best chance.

It is one of the opportunities.

I think the best way to do it is through the Premier League.

We want to win every competition we play in.

We did that for 20 years through the Premier League.

On Hodgson's appointment at Palace

I am happy [no longer oldest manager].

But I am not happy Frank de Boer has been sacked because he is a very good manager.

Will Wilshere be involved?

Back to Wenger now...

I don’t give the team away.

I believe Jack needs to continue with the spirit he works and plays with.

There was always a huge pressure on him to come back as quickly as possible.

He is getting stronger and stronger every day.

He was a bit behind the other players.

Every game is an opportunity for him and this season.

Giroud on how close he came to leave

It is a very private decision.

It is true that I was close to leaving the club because I wanted to play.

After big reflection with my family, my close friends, I decided to stay.

I thought the story wasn’t finished at Arsenal.

The club gave me a lot and I still want to win some more trophies with the club.

Giroud on team spirit after Bournemouth

It was a strong response on Saturday.

We were pleased with the result.

It is good for the confidence and now we focus on the Europa League.

We have another big game on Sunday.

Giroud on scoring record.

The Frenchman is one away from 100 goals for Arsenal.

I keep it in the back of my mind.

The most important thing is to win.

If we play well, the goals will come.

We are very focused on the Europa League. We want to go and win it.

I hope it will happen as quick as possible.

It is a privilege to score goals and win with Arsenal.

On Giroud's career

His contribution has been huge.

He has shown very loyal spirit.

He has a huge respect from everyone inside the club.

Wednesday or Thursday night is no problem.

Wednesday/Saturday os similar.

It’s just a different competition.

Team news

We have a no problems.

We have a few players who are rested completely.

The injury situation isn’t too bad.

Coquelin is out for three weeks.

Let's go!

Olivier Giroud will also be speaking ahead of the clash with Cologne.

Stay tuned.

Mustafi mocks Lacazette

There were many talking points when Arsenal players posed for this squad snap yesterday afternoon.

Many Gunners fans reckoned some of the players looked grumpy - and Shkodran Mustafi riffed on this with a little light-hearted dig at club record signing Alexandre Lacazette.

The pair were positioned beside each other for the club’s annual team photo at London Colney and Mustafi joked that Lacazette was reluctant to be his partner for the snap.

The Frenchman was left out on the periphery of the photo alongside Mustafi and the World Cup winner shared a photo of him appearing to coax Lacazette to sit beside him.

Arsenal's Europa League fixtures

  • September 14 - Cologne (h) - 8:05pm
  • September 28 - BATE Borisov (a) - 6pm
  • October 19 - Red Star Belgrade (a) - 6pm
  • November 2 - Red Star Belgrade (h) - 8:05pm
  • November 23 - FC Cologne (a) - 6pm
  • December 7 - BATE Borisov (h) - 8:05pm
Cologne's head coach Peter Stoeger (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Debuchy's frustration

Mathieu Debuchy has revealed his frustration after free transfers to Nice and Brighton collapsed this summer leaving him stranded at Arsenal.

The France full-back went on loan to Bordeaux last year and then made just one Premier League appearance at Bournemouth last season when he went off with a hamstring strain.

Debuchy, now 32, was furious after only learning in the press that Nice had signed Christophe Jallet without telling him after undergoing a medical.

The former Newcastle defender will be out of contract next summer and he told L’Equipe: “I don’t know what will happen because this summer the coach (Arsene Wenger) would have let me leave without a transfer fee.

“Brighton also enquired in the last few days of the transfer window. But that came to nothing.”

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - MAY 26: (L-R) Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy of Arsenal before a training session (
Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty)

Hector Bellerin insists Arsenal are in it to win it ahead of the start of their Europa League debut.

The Gunners kick-off their group stage campaign against Germans Cologne on Thursday night.

Arsene Wenger’s men ended up in the Europa League after failing to make the top four last season, finishing fifth.

The competition will be a come-down after the north Londoners’ 20 successive years in the Champions League and it is one they could easily sacrifice to focus on bigger priorities — such as the Premier League.

But right-back Bellerin sounded more interested in emulating Manchester United’s triumph in the competition last season when said: “The Europa League is a very important competition for us.

“We know that if we have the possibility of winning it, we will return to the Champions League nextyear, which is one of our targets.”

Bellerin in action (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Greetings

Good morning one and all.

Welcome to our live coverage of Arsene Wenger’s pre-match press conference.

The Gunners open their Europa League account against Cologne at the Emirates on Thursday night.

Wenger is resting SEVEN big names for the clash ahead of Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.

Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey all sat out training this morning and will not be involved.

Jack Wilshere trained and is set to start his first game for Arsenal in 13 months.

Alexis Sanchez may also start to boost his match fitness.

Follow updates from the Gunners’ press conference at London Colney.

Arsene Wenger with Shkodran Mustafi during training (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)