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“ NEIL WARNOCK IS FACING AN ANXIOUS WAIT “

Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:17 pm

The early Cardiff City v Arsenal team news

Thursday 30th August 2018

Neil Warnock is facing a shortage of options out wide for the visit of the Gunners

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock is facing an anxious wait on star winger Junior Hoilett ahead of his side's clash with Arsenal on Sunday.

Hoilett sat out the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield with a groin problem, and faces a late fitness test ahead of the the visit of the Gunners, who picked up their first win under Unai Emery by dispatching West Ham United 3-1 at the weekend.

Warnock revealed after his side's Carabao Cup defeat to Norwich City that the Canadian was being treated with "kid gloves ", but could still be in contention as Cardiff look for their first competitive win over the North London side since 1961.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's televised game, Warnock said: "I’m hoping he’ll train on Friday. If he’s anywhere near, he’ll play [against Arsenal on Sunday] because that’s the kind of lad he is.

"But I won’t risk him if he’s not."


Hoilett's absence has arguably become more pronounced on the back of the news that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will be out for around three months.

Warnock confirmed that the former Rochdale star suffered a posterior cruciate injury last weekend, meaning he now faces a potential shortage of options out wide.
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Re: “ NEIL WARNOCK IS FACING AN ANXIOUS WAIT “

Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:18 pm

There's better news on long-term absentee Aron Gunnarsson, with Warnock confirming that the Icelandic international has "trained well" as he bids to return from a knee injury, although he's still unlikely to be available again until after the international break.

Meanwhile, Arsenal could welcome Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette back to their starting line-up, while new signing Lucas Torreira could also be a potential option.

However, long-term absentees Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all remain out.

It promises to be a very tough test for the Bluebirds, who are likely to be backed by a sell out crowd for this clash, but Arsenal are arguably a team in transition under new boss Emery.


Alexandre Lacazette coudl return for Arsenal on Sunday
Then again, Football.London's Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts warns that the visitors will be pretty upbeat despite their somewhat mixed start to the new season.

"The win against West Ham last weekend was massive," he says.

"It was far from a convincing performance, but getting that first win was huge and they will be looking to build on that now.

"The big issue for Arsenal though has been their away form. They were woeful last season on the road, it was embarrassing at times and they’ve already lost away this season, albeit at Chelsea.

"Sunday is the sort of game that they have to go and win if they want to improve on last season so it will be very interesting to see how they approach it.

"Last season they lost these sort of games. For example, they only got one point from their three away games against the teams that got relegated. They lost at Stoke and Swansea and drew at West Brom.

"That’s just not good enough and Unai Emery has to change that if he wants to get his team competing again for the top four."
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