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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matt Maltby

Arsenal squad vs Burnley as Unai Emery welcomes back returning stars

Arsenal could welcome back Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac for Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley .

The pair were the victims of an attempted car-jacking last month and did not travel to Newcastle last weekend as the police investigate "further security incidents".

Head coach Unai Emery is confident they will be fine if called upon against the Clarets, although back and leg bruising could see Granit Xhaka miss out, with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe (all groin), and Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding (both knee) absent.

Emery's offensive options are strengthened by summer signings Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli, and he could also unleash Brazilian centre-back David Luiz for the first time since acquiring him from Chelsea .

Unai Emery is preparing his Arsenal side for their clash with Burnley (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

After defeating Newcastle in an uncharacteristically strong opening display, last season's fifth-placed finishers host Burnley at home and can approach the fixture with confidence having beaten the Clarets 3-1 in both league encounters last season.

For Burnley, left-back Charlie Taylor could return to the match-day squad but Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to be considered just yet.

An injury at the start of pre-season left Taylor playing catch-up, and new boy Erik Pieters seized his opportunity in last weekend's win over Southampton .

Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac could return for Saturday's encounter (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Burnley, meanwhile, have arranged two reserve matches next week with the aim of giving Chelsea loanee Drinkwater some game time.

Winger Robbie Brady (ribs) and midfielder Steven Defour (calf) remain sidelined.

Provisional Arsenal squad: Leno, Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Luiz, Sokratis, Chambers, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Elneny, Willock, Ceballos, Mkhitaryan, Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Martinelli.

Provisional Burnley squad: Pope, Hart, Lowton, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Gibson, Bardsley, Pieters, Long, Cork, Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil, Lennon, Barnes, Wood, Rodriguez, Vydra, Peacock-Farrell.

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