Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have both returned to Arsenal training after having been left out of Arsenal’s season opening win at Newcastle United due to security concerns. An attempted carjacking threatened the pair, and although the duo have returned from their short leave of absence, security threats remain.
According to NBC Sports, Ozil and Kolasinac are being targeted by London gangs. Arsenal manager Unai Emery answered questions regarding whether the two players will be available on Saturday at home versus Burnley.
“I think each session gives us good information and good different options with them also to take the decision if they’re going to be with us on Saturday or be in the first XI,” Emery said.
“But we are going to wait until tomorrow, our last training session.”
Meanwhile Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and deadline day acquisition Kieran Tierney remain out due to injury.
Elsewhere, the other summer window transfer buys Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos only made brief debuts in the second half of the victory at St. James Park, but could be in line for starting assignments here while David Luiz, awaiting his debut in an Arsenal shirt.
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction vs Burnley FC
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette
Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos
Nacho Monreal, Sokratis, David Luiz, Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Bern Leno
Kickoff: Saturday, August 17, 12:30 pm, Emirates Stadium
Google Result Probability: Arsenal FC win 74%, Draw 17%, Burnley FC win 9%
Score prediction: Arsenal 2, Burnley 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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