Arsenal vs Huddersfield: Arsene Wenger drops hint over team selection as Manchester United loom

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to confirm whether he will field his second string for the visit of Huddersfield Town, which comes less than 72 hours before Manchester United arrive at the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman has used mid-week matches in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League to give opportunities to youngsters and peripheral members of his first-team squad this season.

Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, David Ospina and Rob Holding are among those players to benefit from Arsenal's campaign in both competitions, and ahead of the visit of United they could be recalled to face Huddersfield on Wednesday (29 November).

But David Wagner's side, who are 17/1 with some bookmakers to leave North London with all three points, have already beaten United this season, while they led runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City at the weekend before eventually falling to a narrow 2-1 loss.

And Wenger is seemingly unwilling to take the Terriers lightly. Mesut Ozil is braced to return from the illness that forced him to miss the win at Burnley, while Theo Walcott is back in training. Santi Cazorla is out and Alex Iwobi is a doubt after being replaced on 67 minutes at Turf Moor with a dead leg.

"From Sunday's game, of course we did not have [Mesut] Ozil," confirmed Wenger, according to Sky Sports. "He has planned to practice again today and we will make an assessment after the training session.

"Alex Iwobi got a dead leg and we are not sure if he will be available for tomorrow. Everybody else should be available, apart from Santi Cazorla who is still out.

"The most important game is tomorrow night. No matter what happens after we have a good chance tomorrow to take three points at home. That is the only thing that matters – I have a big enough squad to deal with the rest after this game."

If Wenger does indeed choose to shuffle his pack in a game that comes a day after United's trip to Watford on Tuesday, then Jack Wilshere could be in line for his first Premier League start of the season.

The England international is a victim of Wenger's rotation policy and has featured just three times in the top flight, all from the bench.

Last week Wilshere suggested he was considering a January exit from Arsenal in an effort to boost his World Cup hopes. His contract expires at the end of the season but Wenger wants to see him remain.

"For him it is just to be fit and to be considered like any other player in his squad," he added. "Of course, every opportunity he gets is a good chance for him to commit to a long-term future.

"At the moment I just think about the interest of our next game and I don't think long-term for him. I always considered his interest because he has been an Arsenal player since he was a kid. I have to consider the interest of both Jack and Arsenal Football Club together.

"If I think his best interest is to stay here I will absolutely fight 100% for him to stay here. He has top quality, he is back fit now and when you have a top quality player you want him to be at the club."