LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal heads towards goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal Gossip

Sokratis should be ready to face Bournemouth on Monday

Jan 23, 2020

Sokratis Papastathopoulos should be healthy again by the time Arsenal travel to Bournemouth on Monday, according to reports.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal acknowledges the fans. Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The Evening Standard report Arsenal are confident Sokratis will be ready for the Bournemouth clash on Monday. The centre-back missed the last couple of games with an illness.

Arsenal’s need for defensive options is even more desperate right now, after David Luiz picked up a red card against Chelsea. He only has a one-game ban, but with Calum Chambers out too, Arsenal really need Sokratis available for that one game.

Given Arsenal’s league position, the FA Cup is all the more important for morale.

If Mikel Arteta’s team go out of the cup and remain out of touch with the top four in the league, there isn’t much to play for outside the Europa League. Then the pressure mounts on those European matches. A win on Monday would be a nice boost.

Hector Bellerin is also back from injury at right-back, of course. Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney remain absent, so Bukayo Saka will continue his run at left-back.