Arsenal have a number of injury concerns to deal with ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League season opener against Aston Villa.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for up to six weeks after picking up a thigh injury, while Nacho Monreal and long term absentees Thomas Vermaelen and Abou Diably are set to miss out.
Per Mertesacker will captain the side in the absence of Vermaelen and Arteta.
Aaron Ramsey is fit to play despite missing Wales’ draw with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, while the club will make a late decision on Santi Cazorla, who endured a gruelling trip to Ecuador midweek.
Yaya Sanogo, the clubs only new arrival of the summer so far, may feature at some point after being named in the match day squad.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has insisted that the club will be active in the transfer market before the window closes on September 2nd, according to Sky Sports.
The Frenchman has been linked with a whole host of big names this summer, but has so far been unable to land any of his major targets.
The Telegraph understand that the club are considering a final £49m bid for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, after the striker denied that he had made a u-turn on his desire to leave Anfield.