Wenger: Arsenal to be without Ozil, Giroud, Koscielny for season opener vs. Liverpool
Arsenal will be missing multiple key components for its Premier League season-opening match against Liverpool.
Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that starters Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny will all miss next Sunday's curtain-raiser following the Gunners' 8-0 rout of Norwegian club Viking in a preseason friendly. They join Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker as regulars who won't be ready to start the new campaign. Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey could also be doubts after just returning to training this week.
Giroud was the club's leading scorer last season with 24 in all competitions, and Ozil had the most assists in the Premier League with 19. Koscielny and Mertesacker made up the starting center back tandem, but both will miss the clash against the Reds, as Mertesacker is out with a long-term knee injury.
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Ozil (Germany), Giroud and Koscielny (France) all took part in Euro 2016 and will reportedly join full training next week for the first time since their summer duties.
Sanchez suffered an ankle injury in the Copa America Centenario final against Argentina and remains on the mend, not playing in any preseason games for Arsenal. He's included in the traveling squad to face Manchester City in a friendly on Sunday.
