Premier League Injury News, Fantasy Impact: Arsenal Face Left-Back Dilemma

The Capital One Cup final on Sunday means there are just eight Premier League matches this weekend, with five on Saturday and a further three (involving the teams still in the Europa League) coming on Sunday.

With Manchester City in action at Wembley, both Arsenal and Chelsea have a chance to build the gap in the title race, although they face potentially tricky away games against Stoke and Fulham, respectively.

Here is the team news going into the weekend's games.

Everton vs. West Ham

Roberto Martinez is definitely without Darron Gibson, Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo, while both Phil Jagielka and Lacina Traore have also been ruled out for the meeting with the Hammers—with Martinez unsure if the latter will even be able to play for the club again. 

There is some good news, however, with both Romelu Lukaku and Antolin Alcaraz in the matchday squad.

West Ham are without Marco Borriello, Ricardo Vaz Te and Joey O'Brien.

Out	Lacina Traore		Out	Marco Borriello
	Phil Jagielka			Ricardo Vaz Te
	Darron Gibson			Joey O'Brien
	Bryan Oviedo
	Arouna Kone

Fulham vs. Chelsea

Chelsea will wait anxiously to see if John Obi Mikel and Oscar are fit to face their local rivals. The former suffered a slight knock against Galatasaray, and the latter was unable to start the game due to a foot problem. David Luiz will also be a late decision for Mourinho, while Marco van Ginkel remains a long-term absentee.

Assuming Felix Magath has not run any of his charges too hard in training, the German will have a full Fulham squad to call upon, barring the sidelined Matthew Briggs.

Out	Matthew Briggs		Out	Marco van Ginkel
			Doubt	Oscar
				John Obi Mikel
				David Luiz

Hull City vs. Newcastle United

Hull are definitely without Robbie Brady and Paul McShane, although Steve Bruce hopes to be able to include Tom Huddlestone, Liam Rosenior and son Alex Bruce in his selection after all three overcame knocks.

For the visitors, Davide Santon is at least another week away from selection, while it will be a late decision for Alan Pardew on whether Hatem Ben Arfa and Gael Bigirimana make his bench. Gabriel Obertan and Ryan Taylor remain long-term absentees.

Out	Robbie Brady		Out	Davide Santon
	Paul McShane			Gabriel Obertan
				Ryan Taylor
Doubt	Tom Huddlestone
	Liam Rosenior		Doubt	Hatem Ben Arfa
	Alex Bruce			Gael Bigirimana

Stoke City vs. Arsenal

Oussama Assaidi is unavailable for the hosts, while Robert Huth is expected to be fit and available after coming through 45 minutes against Burnley in reserve action in midweek

Arsenal have the longest injury list in the league at the minute, but Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and even Thomas Vermaelen are all expected to be available on Saturday. Vermaelen could even be pressed into service at left-back, as both Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal require late fitness tests.

Aaron Ramsey, Kim Kallstrom and Theo Walcott are longer-term injuries.

Out	Oussama Assaidi		Out	Aaron Ramsey
				Kim Kallstrom
Doubt	Robert Huth			Theo Walcott
			Doubt	Kieran Gibbs
				Nacho Monreal
				Thomas Vermaelen

Southampton vs. Liverpool

The Saints' only injury absentee is Jos Hooiveld, while the game might just come a few days too soon for Liverpool duo Mamadou Sakho and Lucas Leiva. Jose Enrique is still a few weeks from availability after a long-term knee problem.

Out	Jos Hooiveld		Out	Mamadou Sakho
				Lucas Leiva
				Jose Enrique

Aston Villa vs. Norwich

Ashley Westwood and Ryan Bertrand are expected to miss out for Villa, joining Chris Herd, Charles N'Zogbia, Jores Okore and Libor Kozak on the sidelines.

Jonas Gutierrez, Michael Turner, Ryan Bennett and Elliott Bennett are all set to miss out for the Canaries.

Out	Charles N'Zogbia		Out	Jonas Gutierrez
	Jores Okore			Michael Turner
	Libor Kozak			Ryan Bennett
	Chris Herd			Elliott Bennett
Doubt	Ashley Westwood
	Ryan Bertrand

Swansea vs. Crystal Palace

Garry Monk remains without Michu, Alex Pozuelo, Kyle Bartley and Ben Davies, while Jonjo Shelvey is considered unlikely to be involved against the Eagles—whose only injury absentee remains Jerome Thomas. (Jonny Williams is expected to complete a loan move to the Championship before the weekend.)

Out	Michu		Out	Jerome Thomas
	Alex Pozuelo
	Kyle Bartley
	Ben Davies
Doubt	Jonjo Shelvey

Tottenham vs. Cardiff 

No Danny Rose or Kyle Walker for Spurs, who will also be without Etienne Capoue, Erik Lamela, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Vlad Chiriches.

Few Cardiff players can be confident of their selection after last weekend's drubbing at the hands of Hull, but Mark Hudson is definitely out. Gary Medel and Jordon Mutch have both trained this week. but with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reluctant to rush either man, it is the latter who is more likely to be involved at White Hart Lane.

Out	Gylfi Sigurdsson		Out	Mark Hudson
	Vlad Chiriches
	Erik Lamela		Doubt	Gary Medel
	Etienne Capoue			Jordon Mutch
Doubt	Danny Rose
	Kyle Walker