LONDON, December 3 – Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna will miss the Premier League leaders’ home game with Hull City on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Tuesday.
The France international is expected to be unavailable for only one match, with Carl Jenkinson in line to deputise for him at the Emirates Stadium.
“I believe we will lose Sagna, who has a slight hamstring problem and he should be out for tomorrow’s game,” Wenger said.
“You expect when you play so many games with that much intensity that you will lose one or two players. We have so many games that I always knew I’d have to make changes. Full-back is a demanding position.”
German forward Lukas Podolski is scheduled to resume training this week following a hamstring problem of his own, but Wenger says he is unlikely to be available to play until the away game at Manchester City on December 14.
“Lukas Podolski should be back in normal training after the Hull game,” Wenger said.
“He will then be available, but he lacks match fitness. It will take at least a week with normal training to consider him fit for the squad.”
Arsenal go into Wednesday’s game looking to increase their four-point lead at the top of the standings, but Wenger is wary of a Hull team who stunned fourth-place Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday.
“Hull have done very well and they have nothing to lose when they come to us. We have a warning from the Liverpool game,” the Frenchman told a press conference.
“Hull are very dynamic going forward and on set-pieces they look strong as well.
“It’s a bit early to make a prediction on the title. If we can maintain our concentration, we have a chance.”
Wenger also dismissed British media reports that he has made moves for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and Corinthians’ Brazil international forward Alexandre Pato.
