Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of striker Olivier Giroud after he sustained a late ankle injury against Everton which threatens to rule him out of the Champions League tie against Besiktas on Wednesday.
The France striker proved to be the hero as his header salvaged an unlikely point against the Toffees, who had looked set to pick up the win thanks to goals from Seamus Coleman and Steven Naismith.
However, Aaron Ramsey pulled one back with seven minutes to go and substitute Giroud rose to head home Nacho Monreal’s cross in the last minute to maintain the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the season.
Giroud made a key difference to the side after the ineffectual Alexis Sanchez was replaced at half-time but boss Arsene Wenger is now sweating on news over an ankle injury with the crucial Champions League qualifier second leg against Besiktas this week.
Wenger told Sky Sports: “It is a big game on Wednesday, we hope we can recover. I hope we have not lost Giroud in the final minute. It’s a stretched ankle. It doesn’t look good.”
Any kind of win against the Turkish side will be enough to see the Gunners through following the goalless draw at the Ataturk Stadium on Tuesday, although the lack of an away goal will put the pressure on Arsenal should Besiktas find the net at the Emirates.
With home advantage, Arsenal are strong favourites at 1.37 to secure the win and book their place in the Champions League proper, while Slaven Bilic’s men are on offer at 7.56 with the draw at 4.59.
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