Jack Wilshere hasn’t played for Arsenal since before Christmas, a trend that will continue tomorrow as the Gunners take on French-side Monaco in the last 16 of Champions League play.
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The English midfielder has been out of action since undergoing ankle surgery in November, but was on the bench as an unused substitute against Crystal Palace over the weekend.
Wilshere was absent from Arsenal’s training session this morning, and manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that he would not feature tomorrow against Monaco.
The only uncertainty I have at the moment is Jack Wilshere but everybody else is available. He was rested [at training], because he trained hard until now. No, it’s not a setback but I don’t think [he’ll play against Monaco]. Certainly he will be back for the weekend.
The Gunners have been plagued by injuries all season long, and are still without Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Debuchy and Abou Diaby. Despite all the injury woes, Arsenal sit third on the Premier League table and are into the last 16 of the Champions League.
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Arsenal is taking on a Monaco side that sits fourth on the French Ligue 1 table and won their group in the Champions League, conceding only once in group play.
The Monaco attack will be led by Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgarian striker who scored goals for Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham during his Premier League career. At 34 years of age Berbatov has seen his production drop as of late, but the mercurial striker can always surprise you with a multi-goal performance out of nowhere.