Arsene Wenger Gives Injury Update and Team News Ahead of Capital One Cup Clash

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given an injury update ahead of the Capital One Cup clash against Southampton.

The Gunners are coming off of a tough schedule following games against Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa and are still missing a few key players in the team.

Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy have been ruled out for at least three months after both the French players having undergone ankle surgery this month. However, there is good news on the injury front with a few players set to return following the international break.

"He[Monreal] is not far, but he is not ready yet," Wenger said, as quoted on Arsenal's official website.

"Theo is doing very well, and Gnabry is doing very well too. They should be available after the international break for full training," the Arsenal boss added.

Meanwhile, with it being the League cup, one can expect Wenger to field some of the up and coming young stars from the Arsenal academy.

The Frenchman gave an insight on the young players who could feature against the Saints on Tuesday evening.

"On Tuesday night you might see Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin and Isaac Hayden. In the squad we have Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi as well. These are the players that are the closest."

The 64-year-old manager went on to give individual assessments on two of the youngsters, who have impressed him. First, he spoke about 18-year-old Chuba Akpom. The young Englishman has been in tremendous form for the reserve side and has played for the first team before as well.

Wenger believes that the striker, who has now improved his finishing skills has yet to learn the tactical side of the game before he is fully ready for the big time. But the boss has tipped Akpom for a big career at Arsenal.

"I'm happy that he [Akpom] has developed as a goalscorer, because when he was a younger kid, his problem was finishing. That has gone now. He's a very good finisher and he has now to learn the tactical side of his game. Then he will be ready, because he is a huge talent," Wenger said.

Then he spoke about young centre-back Isaac Hayden, who has been a mainstay in the reserve team and made a couple of appearances for the first-team. He is a versatile player and has the ability to also play as a defensive midfielder and the Gunners boss feels he is now ready to make the step up to the senior level.

"He's a ball winner, he's a good central defender and a good central midfielder. Technically he was working on his game a bit, but now he is ready for that level," Wenger concluded.