Arsenal Injury Update: Thomas Vermaelen Set for Return as Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere Face Fitness Tests

Feb 14, 2013 11:12 PM EST

Arsenal have received a boost after it was revealed that Thomas Vermaelen is back in full training following his absence due to an ankle injury, while Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere are set to undergo late fitness tests.

The Gunners were forced to use rightback Bacary Sagna in central defense, after Laurent Koscielny also picked up a problem, leaving the home side thin at the back against Sunderland last weekend.

However, a week's rest has helped, and Vermaelen is expected to be back for the F.A. Cup fifth round game against Blackburn Rovers.

"He (Vermaelen) is looking quite good and is possibly back for Saturday," Wenger told reporters. "He should be in the squad."

Koscielny, though, is likely to miss out, with the defender set to undergo tests Friday.

Arsenal's biggest worry, however, is Wilshere, who has driven the team forward this season, and while the kick to the thigh is not deemed serious, it is unlikely that Wenger will take a risk on his midfielder against Blackburn, with the big game against Bayern Munich looming Tuesday.

"He is having tests tomorrow. He is looking better. He is still a doubt for Saturday. He's got a kick on the thigh."

Arsenal do not have too many other worries, with goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski playing his first game of the season in a reserve fixture in midweek, while Kieran Gibbs remains ruled out.

"Ramsey is alright. Sagna is alright. Jenkinson is suspended," Wenger added. "Diaby is available again and all the other players are alright.

"Fabianski came back in the week so we are not too bad on the injury front. We have two short-term problems, with Koscielny and Wilshere, while Gibbs is out. That is it."

Meanwhile, Wenger has praised Sagna's performance against Sunderland last weekend, and said he has the makings of a good center-back.

"I always thought he could play there one day," Wenger told the club's official website.

"We pushed him in this position in training. What he showed in training was encouraging. He had no preparation.

"He was told 10 minutes before the start of the game and he dealt very well with that situation, so that's very positive."

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