Arsenal team news: Laurent Koscielny faces latest fitness test as Hector Bellerin ruled out of Tottenham clash

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

06 Nov 2015, 3:41 am

By Editor Wayne Veysey

Laurent Koscielny could feature in Sunday's north London derby but Hector Bellerin will miss out, Arsene Wenger said today.

Football Insider

revealed yesterday that

Arsenal will be without possibly 10 first-team players for the match against arch-rivals Tottenham

. Koscielny joined the club's ever-growing injury list when he sustained a hip injury on Wednesday afternoon and missed the Bayern Munich mauling that same night but he has not be ruled out of Sunday's match. Speaking at his media briefing today, Wenger said: "Koscielny might be back but Bellerin is not available. I give Koscielny 80 per cent. He will have a test tomorrow.” Koscielny, who is widely considered to be Arsenal's best centre-back, will be put through his paces in a final training session tomorrow morning as Arsene Wenger prepares his injury-ravaged team for Tottenham. The treatment room already includes Bellerin (groin), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Theo Walcott (calf), Mikel Arteta (ankle/foot), Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), David Ospina (shoulder) as well as long-term absentees Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (knee) and Danny Welbeck (knee). Asked about the length of the club's casualty list, Wenger said: "I’m very concerned. Because we are only in November and we have so many players out.

Testing times: Laurent Koscielny will undergo a late fitness test on his injured hip

“We go into the Christmas period and I am concerned because we have too many players out."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has not given up hope of being involved against Spurs

even though Wenger has said he will not return until after the international break. The England international suffered a hamstring injury against Sheffield Wednesday 10 days ago but the problem is believed to be relatively minor.

Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur

Arsene Wenger