Eboue to miss Blackburn, Diaby nearing return

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
23 Dec	3:00 PM	P	Blackburn Rovers (H)	6	2	Win

Plenty of injury news to report, with Emmanuel Eboue definitely out of Saturday's clash with Blackburn, Flamini a doubt, and on a very positive note, the news that Abou Diaby is getting ever closer to a return to action.

Firstly, Ivorian defender Eboue has not recovered from an ankle knock he picked up at the end of the Portsmouth game. Wenger insists, however, that he will not be tempted to use fit-again Lauren, but it is Justin Hoyte who will deputise at right-back.

"Eboue came off with an ankle injury in our last game against Portsmouth," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. "We thought it would be a matter of days but he will certainly be out on Saturday against Blackburn.

"It will be Justin Hoyte who plays."

Mathieu Flamini might make it, but the French midfielder was not included in the Gunners' squad to face Liverpool earlier in the week.

"There was a small injury to Mathieu Flamini that meant he could not travel to Liverpool. So I don't know whether I will have him in the squad or not on Saturday."

Another French midfielder, who we have sadly not seen for a long time due to a horrible injury last May, could finally be set for a comeback sometime next month.

Abou Diaby has been out of action since a horrible challenge on his ankle at Sunderland last season, but is finally back in training.

"We plan for Abou to come back to full training at the beginning of January," said Wenger. "We will hopefully see him playing games at the end of January."

User Comments

myhamismad

Posted on 22 Dec, 2006 at 03:56 AM - Reply

god Hoyte?? why? Lauren's been itching to get back in. He was going to start against Liverpool, why not start him against Blackburn??

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