Thegoalmac can reveal that Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Jack Wilshere will be unavailable as Arsenal host Premier League basement side Burnley, while Kieran Gibbs will undergo a late test on a hip injury.
Theo Walcott has been absent since rupturing anterior cruciate
ligaments in a 2-0 FA Cup win over London rivals Tottenham back in
January but is still not ready to play from the start.
Having
resumed full training at the start of October, he has since played 45
minutes for Arsenal's Under-21 side and was an unused substitute for the
first team's 2-0 win at Sunderland last weekend.
If Walcott
was to make an appearance from the bench it would inject even more pace
into a frontline that already contains Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.
Chile star Sanchez has had a hand in each of Arsenal's last four goals,
scoring twice at the Stadium of Light after hitting the opener and
assisting Welbeck's late equaliser in the previous weekend's 2-2 draw at
home to Hull.
Arsene Wenger has admitted he is excited to have
so much speed at his disposal but says he will not take any risks with
Walcott.
"Could the attacking pace frighten defences? Let's see," he said after the win against Sunderland.
"My imagination works like yours, but I have to prove that they can
work together on the pitch and that's what I'll try to do when
everybody's back.
"We dropped points at home unexpectedly
against Hull and that's why we have to focus on winning the Burnley game
before I can plan giving Theo some competition."
Sean Dyche
will celebrate two years at the Burnley helm by making the trip to one
of the top-flight's powerhouses, something few would have banked on the
Lancastrians doing so soon after he replaced Eddie Howe.
Having
steered Burnley to second place in the Championship in his first full
season in charge, Dyche has struggled to inspire his side towards
securing their top-flight status.
Sitting bottom as they head
to Emirates Stadium, Burnley are the only side in the Premier League or
Football League without a win and only Aston Villa have scored fewer
than their five goals in the top division.
Last season's
leading scorer Danny Ings registered his first league goal of the
campaign in Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Everton, though, and Dyche is
determined to remain positive.
"It dents you but it doesn't
break you," he said of Burnley's poor start, which has seen them take
four points from nine games. "It can be a reality, whether it hurts or
not is irrelevant.
"It gives you the added motivation to get
wins. It's important we focus on what we're about. We get the players
prepared to go and achieve things."
Burnley have received a boost to their midfield options ahead of the game with Dean Marney recovering from a hamstring injury.

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