Arsenal aim to cash in on Coquelin boost

LONDON: Francis Coquelin’s return to the Arsenal squad for the FA Cup fourth round tie with Burnley will hand Arsene Wenger’s side a major lift following last Sunday’s league defeat by Chelsea. Burnley visit the Emirates six days after Diego Costa’s match-winning goal prevented the Gunners returning to the top of the Premier League.

The way Wenger’s FA Cup holders respond against a side challenging for promotion from the Championship will be a test of character. And Coquelin’s return two months after suffering knee ligament damage at West Bromwich Albion will help Arsenal recover from their latest stumble.

Wenger’s side have stuttered in recent weeks, winning just two of their last six league games. And while the championship is clearly the club’s priority this season, progress towards a third successive FA Cup triumph will provide a welcome confidence boost. Coquelin is expected to start on the bench and could be joined by Tomas Rosicky who made a 45minute appearance for the club’s Under-21 side last week. With Alexis Sanchez having returned following a hamstring problem as a second half substitute against Chelsea and Danny Welbeck returning to full training, Arsenal’s injury list is finally shrinking.

‘Mentally stronger’ Midfielders Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla remain the two most notable absentees while Per Mertesacker is suspended after being sent off against Chelsea. Mertesacker believes the way the side has coped with a succession of injuries reflects the growing strength of Wenger’s squad.

The centre-back told Arsenal.com: “Players have stepped up, brought their energy and we’ve got the results as well. We wonπt look back on players being injured as a negative because other players have stepped up, especially this season. “The team is much stronger and mentally stronger as well. There are a few steps to go, the season is always long and to get consistency is never easy. “There are challenges ahead of us but they make us even stronger, and I must say that the team spirit in the squad is huge at the minute.”

Burnley are chasing an instant return to the Premier League but manager Sean Dyche insists he would still love to achieve another cup shock. Dyche was a defender in the Chesterfield side that reached the semi-finals of the competition as a third-tier club in 1997 before losing to top-flight outfit Middlesbrough in a replay at Old Trafford.—AFP