Arsenal’s crocked defenders Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi give Arsene Wenger headache for Watford clash

ARSENAL face a defensive headache for Sunday's trip to Watford as they sweat over crocked first-choice centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be most worried about Mustafi, whose thigh tear playing for Germany last Sunday could rule him out for weeks.

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France star Koscielny still hopes to make fifth-placed Arsenal's trip to the Hornets, who are a point and three places below their London rivals.

And Wenger will be even more delighted that Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck resumed full training.

But Mustafi faces an anxious wait after a muscle injury that Germany boss Joachim Low admitted could need a "longer break".

So the Gunners' England hopefuls Rob Holding and Calum Chambers are in contention for this weekend, although Germany's Per Mertesacker is the obvious and by far the most experienced candidate.

Jack Wilshere, meanwhile, is pressing for the start that he and Wenger believe he needs to revive his hopes for club and country this season.

The injury-plagued midfielder claims he is now fitter than ever and lacking just match sharpness.

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Wenger, for his part, believes Wilshere needs to prove himself for about 10 games in a row if he is to regain top form.

And England boss Gareth Southgate says the 25-year-old could yet make his squad for next summer's World Cup finals.

That was backed up by Wenger, who said: “Wilshere struggled historically with repeated injuries. Nobody would question his talent.

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“If he can play from now until December at the top level he will be back.

“It’s a vital season, it’s the end of his contract, a World Cup year. "He’s an Arsenal player since he’s a kid so all that is at stake for him.

"You would love a player like him, of that quality, to come back."

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