Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are in line to feature in Arsenal in Sunday’s trip to Southampton as Unai Emery mulls another unorthodox approach to solving his defensive issues.
Wales international Ramsey has not featured since the 2-2 draw at Manchester United, where he injured his ankle.
Ozil completed his first match after a month on the sidelines with back troubles in Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win over Qarabag.
Ramsey was not part of the squad that won the Gunners’ final European game of 2018 and did not train with the first-team prior to the match.
Emery said of Ramsey: “The doctors said to me he thinks on Friday and Saturday he can train and can be ok for Sunday.”
Ozil, whose long-term role in Emery’s energetic, high-pressing Arsenal side has been the subject of much debate, provided his first assist since October, slipping in Alexandre Lacazette for the game’s only goal.
“After his injuries he’s coming back with a good work, today he performed,” Emery said of Ozil.
Neither Ozil nor Ramsey are guaranteed to start for Emery, who has shown a willingness to bench both players for away games. He is certainly not short of options with Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Iwobi all having made a case for selection in recent weeks.
Emery is not blessed with as many options in defensive areas and hinted he may try something out of the ordinary to cover for Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos (suspended) and Rob Holding (knee injury).
“I believe in my players,” he said. “We can use another player like a centre-back with a performance.
“I have one idea on my mind but we need to know how Laurent has recovered and whether he can play on Sunday. Every player is now ok to help in the position we need.”
Arsenal have won just one of their last seven games at St Mary’s in the Premier League but are travelling to the south coast at an opportune time with Southampton having won just one of their 16 league games, a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on September 1.
Former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hassenhutl, among those considered as a possible replacement for Arsene Wenger last season, has been tasked with ending the malaise presided over by Mark Hughes and Emery expects a serious test from the Saints.
“I watched matches from Southampton, they have very good players with quality. For me it’s a surprise they’re in this position in the table.
“They changed their coach but they have the same players. We know Sunday is a very difficult game for us and they are going to play with their supporters pushing a lot against us. They need the three points.
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“For us it’s also very important and we’re going to prepare to impose our idea, our quality, our performance. It’s a tough match.”
