Arsene Wenger confirms Olivier Giroud an injury doubt for Burnley clash

Olivier Giroud has suffered an injury ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash against Basel and is also a doubt for the Gunners' encounter against Burnley on Sunday (2 October). The French striker was anyway set to miss the midweek clash due to suspension after being sent off in the final minutes of the game against Paris Saint-Germain on matchday 1, but the injury is also likely to see him miss the club's trip to Turf Moor at the weekend.

The 29-year-old forward has had a difficult beginning to the new campaign and has not started a single game for Arsenal thus far. Arsene Wenger admitted initially it was due to lack of fitness, but even after returning to full fitness he has been unable to dislodge Alexis Sanchez, who is the manager's preferred choice in the number nine position at the moment.

Giroud missed the north London club's 4-1 win over Hull City on 17 September due to a toe injury, but came on as a second-half substitute in Arsenal's win over Chelsea the following weekend. The France international looks to have sustained an injury yet again, which will come as a big blow as he looks to break back into the starting XI.

"He is not available, he is suspended because he was sent off at PSG. He is a doubt for Sunday, we will see," Wenger confirmed ahead of Basel's visit, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.

"I don't know, it depends on the evolution of his injury," the Frenchman added when asked if whether he will be available for France's 2018 World Cup qualifying games against Bulgaria and the Netherlands during the upcoming international break.

Arsenal have also got a positive update on Francis Coquelin's injury after it was revealed that the midfielder will be out for only three weeks rather than two months which was the initial fear. The Frenchman picked up a knee injury during the win over the Blues on Saturday (24 September) and Wenger believes keeping all the players fit during the course of the season will play a major role in the final outcome of the campaign.

"It's positive because last year during this period we got some bad news and a few long-term injuries and it was a handicap in our season. After you play always the same players and you lose a little bit of your edge physically. The fact is we have a compact squad, but of top quality, so to keep everybody together is a big plus," he added.