Arsenal ace a doubt for Sunderland clash

Theo Walcott will face a late fitness test ahead of tomorrow's Sunderland opener. Photo credit: Anthony Devlin/PA wire

Friday, August 17, 2012
10:33 AM

Team news: Arsenal v Sunderland

Arsenal will assess England forward Theo Walcott (thigh) ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League opener against Sunderland.

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle) and defender Laurent Koscielny (calf) will both miss out having withdrawn from the midweek internationals.

Summer signing Santi Cazorla will be monitored after his trip to Puerto Rico with Spain, while Lukas Podolski is expected to lead the attack following the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) continues his rehabilitation from an ankle injury as does defender Bacary Sagna (broken leg).

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill could hand a start to new striker Louis Saha in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash against Arsenal.

Saha joined on a one-year deal this week after he was released by Tottenham and is likely to feature with striker Stephane Sessegnon an injury doubt (ankle).

Wes Brown (knee ligaments), Phil Bardsley (ankle) and David Vaughan (surgery) are all set to miss out.

Arsenal’s provisional squad: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski, Walcott, Fabianski, Santos, Diaby, Rosicky, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arshavin, Giroud.

Sunderland’s provisional squad: Westwood, Mignolet, Cattermole, Larsson, Gardner, Campbell, Wickham, Richardson, Kilgallon, Colback, O’Shea, Ji, Meyler, Bramble, McClean, Elmohamady, Saha, Cuellar.