Speaking to the media in Croatia, Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Héctor Bellerín and Aaron Ramsey haven’t travelled for the game against Dinamo Zagreb.
Arsenal face the Croatian side on Wednesday but will be without the two players as well as Per Mertesacker, who has also been left in London.
Ramsey has started every game for Arsenal this season and Bellerín has missed out just once, but Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea must be in the back of Wenger’s mind to leave the two players out of the side.
TEAM NEWS: “@HectorBellerin and @aaronramsey stayed behind. Everyone else who is fit has travelled.” #ZAGvAFCpic.twitter.com/ZiiglJZ8xf
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) September 15, 2015
With Wenger saying everyone else who is fit has travelled we must assume Mertesacker is still deemed to be lacking match fitness despite a return to full training, though his car incident on Monday is being used as a reason by some.
Mertesacker will not be travelling with the #AFC squad to Zagreb today after being involved in a car crash near the clubs’ training ground
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) September 15, 2015
We can safely assume that Mathieu Debuchy will take Bellerín’s place in the team, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the most likely player to deputise for Ramsey on the right of the midfield.