Wenger confirms Ramsey, Alexis ready while Özil, Giroud and Koscielny held back

Following a summer punctuated by the 2016 UEFA European Championship (no, that’s its actual name) and the Copa América Centenario, Arsenal were facing a delay in returning some of their stars to competition. Manager Arsène Wenger confirmed today, though, that both Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sánchez would take part in the two upcoming preseason games in Scandinavia while Mesut Özil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny are yet to return.

Ramsey had a wonderful tournament helping propel Wales into the semifinals where they lost to eventual champions Portugal albeit without Ramsey who was suspended for picking up a pair of yellow cards throughout the competition.

Sanchez contributed to Chile repeating as champions of the Copa scoring three times in the tournament.

Özil, Giroud and Koscielny remain on rest as all played later into the summer. Ramsey last played on July 1 while Sanchez finished on June 26. Özil and Germany lost to France on July 7 while Koscielny and Giroud were put down in the final on July 10.

Arsenal’s season opener against Liverpool looms in less than two weeks.