EMERY’S ON THE PROWL

Laurent lift but Unai will still go shopping

LAURENT KOSCIELNY will start his first game in seven months tonight – but that won’t stop Unai Emery moving for a new defender next month.

The Arsenal centre-back makes his comeback from an Achilles injury in the Europa League dead rubber against Qarabag.

It’s a major boost to Emery but the Gunners boss still wants to bring in reinforcements when the transfer window opens next month.

Emery currently favours a system which requires three central defenders.

And with Rob Holding out for the season with a knee injury, Emery doesn’t want to rely on natural full-backs Nacho Monreal or Stephan Lichtsteiner playing out of position.

In addition, Calum Chambers cannot be recalled from his season’s loan spell at Fulham.

That means Manchester

United misfit

Eric Bailly and

Real Valladolid’s Fernando Calero are on a shortlist being drawn up by the club.

Gary Cahill, 32, looks set to leave Chelsea on loan and is also being considered as a short-term option, but it’s unlikely he would be allowed to join a rival. Emery (below) said: “I don’t know if it’s possible, but I think if we can take one player to help us at centreback, it’s a good option. In the transfer market it is not easy. “Koscielny coming back is very important for the team and we are going to wait to see how Konstantinos Mavropanos is improving with his injuries. “Nacho Monreal can play in this position. But I prefer to use, if we can, specific centre-backs in this position.

“We are going to give players chances to take responsibility against Qarabag. We are going to play four matches in the next 10 days. They are all important.”

Emery says he plans to start with Koscielny, but added: “It’s the first match he is going to play.

Spot

“We are going to see if he can play 90 minutes or less in this game.”

Mesut Ozil could also return from a back injury and is set to see action off the bench.

But Emery will name several players from the Under-23s with the group’s top spot guaranteed.

Emery said: “After his injuries, Mesut is okay and he is in the group for the game. He helps us with his quality.”