Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Manuel Almunia - returns.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will return to the Arsenal squad for the first time since the end of September for Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Huddersfield at the Emirates Stadium after recovering from elbow and then ankle injuries.

Full-back Bacary Sagna will be rested after suffering a clash of heads during the midweek Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich, but defender Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring), midfielders Abou Diaby (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (virus) all return.

Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) remains out, while centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) is still some six weeks away from a possible return.

Teenage striker Benik Afobe, 17, is on loan at Huddersfield, but is not eligible to play against his parent club.

Huddersfield will be without leading goalscorer Jordan Rhodes.

Rhodes, who has scored 16 goals this season, has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments in last week's goalless home draw with Colchester.

Lee Novak replaced Rhodes on Saturday and is expected to start alongside Alan Lee in the fourth-round clash at the Emirates but Benik Afobe, on loan from Arsenal, provides manager Lee Clark with an alternative option and could be in line to play against his parent club.

Town will also be without on-loan Newcastle defender Tamas Kadar, who has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury.

Defenders Gary Naysmith (toe) and Leigh Franks (hamstring) and midfielder Damien Johnson (knee ligaments) remain long-term absentees.

Arsenal squad: Almunia, Gibbs, Squillaci, Djourou, Eboue, Arshavin, Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Bendtner, Chamakh, Szczesny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri, Walcott, Koscielny

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