Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal have no fresh squad injuries for their trip to St James’ park this weekend when they will face Newcastle.
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Tomas Rosicky may return for the trip up north after missing the last few games though illness.
TEAM NEWS: Rosicky could be available, @m8arteta and @MatDebuchy will be out for at least three more weeks #NUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/DLDyDqRKtR
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 19, 2015
A return that could prove beneficial with Wenger hinting changes may have to be made to personnel after consecutive tough games against West Ham and Monaco in midweek.
Wenger on fatigue: “West Ham was a very physical game and we paid for it in the second half of the Monaco game. It’s a concern.” #NUFCvAFC — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 19, 2015
Jack Wilshere, despite Wenger’s insistence he would be out for ‘days not weeks’ after his latest ankle surgery, will again be missing this week and will be out indefinitely.
Meanwhile, long term absentees Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are still a number of weeks away from a return to the squad.
Coming off their last-16 Champions League exit, Wenger also used his Premier League press conference to bemoan the away goals rule in Europe’s elite competition.
The Gunners won 2-0 at Monaco on Tuesday night which saw them draw the score level on agregate at 3-3 following their disastrous first leg performance.
However, the away goals rule meant Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League for the fifth straight year in the first knockout round.
Arsene Wenger, though, insists it’s not sour grapes and that both Chelsea and Arsenal suffered because of the outdated rule.
Wenger says that away goals rule is outdated as he refers to Arsenal and Chelsea exit in Champions League. Says should count after extra time
— Gary Jacob (@garyjacob) March 19, 2015
“Its two teams that have gone out on away goals that it should be questioned. It is a rule that is outdated,” he added, reports Daily Mirror.
“In direct knockout you can be a bit lucky as well. None of the teams apart from Barcelona appear to be that much superior. It should count maybe after extra time.
“This rule has been created in the sixtties. The weight of the away goal is perhaps too big today.”