*Senderos fit, Walcott and Eduardo stand-by*
Philippe Senderos has been passed fit for Saturday’s clash with Derby County but, as expected, Alex Hleb will be missing.Both players picked up knocks in Wednesday night’s victory over Sevilla in midweek. The game had already cost Arsenal the services of Tomas Rosicky (hamstring). A day later, Arsène Wenger said the Swiss defender’s hip problem classed him as a “doubt” for the weekend while Hleb’s knee made him a “major doubt”.
With that in mind the team news revealed by Arsène Wenger at his pre-match press conference was hardly a surprise.
“We still have Eboue (ankle), Gallas (groin) and Lehmann [elbow) out,” said the manager. “We have lost Rosicky and Hleb as well now. Rosicky has a minor strain and will be out for 10 days, Hleb has a knee injury. But Senderos will be fit.”
WengerÂ’s side have a heavy workload at the moment so he intends to ring the changes.
“I will rotate a little bit and try to get the right mixture between stability and some fresh legs as well,“ he said. “Gilberto will be back, maybe Theo Walcott will start, I do not know yet. Eduardo down the left can be a possibility as well.”