Arsenal Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Huddersfield

Chris Wheatley

Arsenal Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Huddersfield image

Arsenal have won 11 straight Premier League home games at Emirates Stadium and will look to continue that fine record when Huddersfield Town visit north London on Wednesday.

The newly-promoted side were defeated by Manchester City on Sunday in a narrow 2-1 loss and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that David Wagner's men possess a dangerousness due to their 'fighting spirit'.

Arsenal 5/1 to win 2-0

"It’s a massive game for me because I watched their game against City, they didn’t deserve to lose," said Wenger. "This team has come out from hell, you have to play 46 games in the Championship to get out of it, and you need to be ready for a fight.

"With all the teams that come up, you realise that especially in the first season they have that kind of fighting spirit that makes them dangerous for every Premier League side, no matter what kind of names you have on the teamsheet."

Wenger's side face Manchester United on Saturday evening and could decide to rotate a couple of players ahead of the key game.


ARSENAL INJURIES


Mesut Ozil trained with the Arsenal squad on Tuesday morning and could be involved in some capacity when the Gunners take on Huddersfield.

The Germany international faces a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday's game while Alex Iwobi will be available after he sustained a dead leg during the game at Burnley.

"For Sunday’s game, we had no Ozil. It’s planned for him to train again today and we’ll make an assessment of him after the training session. Alex Iwobi got a dead leg, a kick on his leg. We’re not sure that he will be available for tomorrow. Everybody else should be available again."

Spanish midfield maestro Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury and is likely to resume training at the turn of the New Year.

Mesut Ozil Arsenal


ARSENAL SUSPENSIONS


Arsenal have no players suspended for this game.


ARSENAL POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP


Wenger could decide to rest several players ahead of Saturday's crunch clash against Manchester United although the Frenchman said in his pre-match press conference that he'll have "zero eyes" on the weekend's game.

"[I will have] zero eyes [on the Manchester United game]," said Wenger. 

"The most important game is tomorrow night, no matter what happens after. We have a good chance to take three points at home tomorrow and that is the only thing that matters. I have a big enough squad to deal with the rest after this game."

Therefore, it's likely that Arsenal will field a similar line-up to the one that narrowly beat Burnley on Sunday with Danny Welbeck likely to start in the attacking three if Ozil isn't ready to play.

ArsenalXI


HUDDERSFIELD TEAM NEWS


Huddersfield will be without injured trio Michael Hefele, Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Philip Billing for the game against Arsenal. 

Rajiv Van La Parra misses out through suspension after receiving a red card following the game against Manchester City on Sunday, while Kasey Palmer could rejoin the matchday squad for the first time since August.

David Wagner's side come into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City and remain 10 points behind the Gunners where they sit in 11th place.

Lauren Depoitre, Aaron Mooy and Steve Mounie are the club's top scorers this season with 2 goals scored each.

David Wagner Huddersfield Manchester United


BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS


  • Arsenal have won six of their last seven league games against Huddersfield Town (L1), although this is the first meeting in league competition since January 1972.

  • Huddersfield have won just one of their last 15 matches against Arsenal in all competitions (W1 D2 L12) – failing to win any of the last eight clashes.

  • The Terriers’ last away win against Arsenal came back in November 1954, winning 5-3. The west Yorkshire side have netted just four goals in their eight visits in all competitions since that win.

  • Only two teams have ever won their first ever Premier League game at the Emirates – West Ham in 2006-07 and Hull in 2008-09. The last seven teams on their first top-flight visit to the stadium have lost, by an aggregate scoreline of 2-20.

  • After winning their first two Premier League games, Huddersfield Town have only won two of their 11 matches in the competition since (W2 D3 L6).

  • Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 17 goals in 18 Premier League games against newly-promoted clubs (13 goals, four assists).

  • Huddersfield Town’s Tom Ince has attempted the most shots (30) without scoring a goal in the Premier League this season.


TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME


The match is not being televised in the UK and kicks off at 19:45 GMT. 

Chris Wheatley

Chris Wheatley Photo