Arsene Wenger had good news and bad news to give out regarding injuries as Arsenal prepare to face rampant Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Saturday.
As if being thoroughly outplayed by Borussia Dortmund wasn't enough, Arsenal were also left with a major worry after Jack Wilshere seemed to turn his ankle on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
Wenger initially suggested the injury had been caused on the same right ankle which kept the midfielder out for a long time, but the manager, speaking to the media on Friday, confirmed, it was actually the less worrisome left ankle, and there was no problem, with Wilshere available for the visit to Villa Park on Saturday.
"He's available," said Wenger when asked about Wilshere's injury. "I was wrong [after the Dortmund game], it was his left ankle and it was only a click that made him turn his ankle a bit, so he's alright."
That will certainly come as a huge relief for Arsenal and Wenger, who are already reeling from a number of injuries, chief of them being right-back Mathieu Debuchy. Wenger confirmed the defender would undergo explorative surgery to find out the extent of the injury.
"He has an exploration of his ankle on Friday night and they go in and look how the ligament is damaged, and after that we know if he does need surgery," added Wenger. "If he doesn't, it'll be six weeks, if he does need surgery it'll be three months. At the moment we don't know."
Wenger will certainly hope for the former, with Arsenal seriously short at the back at the moment, a matter which has not been helped by an injury to Nacho Monreal, who missed the Champions League game, and will again not be available against Aston Villa.
"He will miss the game on Saturday," confirmed Wenger. "It's his back and it's always difficult to predict [how long the recovery will take], we don't really know. I don't think it will be long-term."
Also missing from the squad sheet on Saturday afternoon will be striker Yaya Sanogo, who is struggling with a hamstring problem. That should mean another run-out in a central striking position for Danny Welbeck, who has shown signs of encouragement, even if has not found the back of the net.
Arsenal's deadline day signing will certainly hope Villa Park is the stadium he fires his first goal as an Arsenal player.
Wenger also revealed that Calum Chambers and Mathieu Flamini, two players who were missing from the Borussia Dortmund clash, are back and available to be selected. Chambers is expected to slot into the right-back position in place of Hector Bellerin, who did not have the greatest of times against Dortmund.
"We have Chambers back because he had tonsillitis and wasn't available," said Wenger. "And everybody who started the game will be available again. Flamini's back as well because he wasn't on the team sheet. He's back and available."
