Gibbs to Miss out on Arsenal-Bayern Clash
Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny has been declared fit, but Kieran Gibbs will miss tonight’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayern Munich.
Koscielny missed Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Everton after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty, while Gibbs went off with a calf problem during the closing stages of the Gunners’ 4-1 victory.
Both players missed training on Monday morning ahead of Arsenal’s afternoon flight to Germany, but Koscielny has recovered, while Gibbs will sit out the clash.
Left-back defence is a problem area for Arsene Wenger as Nacho Monreal is struggling with a foot injury, but the Gunners boss has said Thomas Vermaelen is in contention to start at left-back in the Allianz Arena.
Arsenal will also be without suspended goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and striker Yaya Sanogo who has a foot injury and did not travel to Germany, but teenage midfielder Isaac Hayden is in the squad. Jack Wilshere (fractured foot) remains sidelined, as do fellow midfielders Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and Kim Kallstrom (back). Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are long-term absentees.
The German giants have been in unstoppable form since their 2-0 first-leg victory at The Emirates.
Pep Guardiola’s side have recorded four-goal victories over Hannover and Schalke, and last weekend they defeated Wolfsburg 6-1 for a record 16th straight Bundesliga win. Bayern sit 20 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, winning 22 of their 24 games and drawing the other two.