Wilshere and Koscielny will be fit for Arsenal's clash with Bayern Munich

13/02/2013 12:25:00 AM

The England midfielder has been given the all-clear after only suffering a 'dead' leg at Sunderland, while the defender will also be available for the Champions League showdown

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny have given Arsenal a Champions League boost after being given the all-clear to train fully this week, Goal.com understands.

Wilshere hobbled off during the second half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Sunderland last Saturday with a heavily bandaged thigh after colliding with Alfred N’Diaye.

But any fears that the damage could be long-term have been eased as tests have showed that the midfielder was suffering only from a ‘dead leg’. He will take part in training this week and be available to play in Saturday’s fifth-round FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium.

Koscielny pulled out of the Arsenal team that started at Sunderland after suffering a twinge during the warm-up.

But the Frenchman has now recovered from what is believed to have only been a minor calf injury and he is also expected to be available for the weekend.

It is a double boost for Arsene Wenger as he begins planning for next Tuesday’s mouth-watering Champions League first-leg clash against Bayern Munich.

The manager is considering resting Wilshere from the team that starts against Blackburn, which he also did in the last round against another Championship opponent, Brighton and Hove Albion.

Arsenal’s biggest fitness worry is skipper Thomas Vermaelen, who had been earmarked to deputise at left-back against Bayern in the absence of cup-tied Nacho Monreal and the injured Kieran Gibbs.

As revealed by Goal.com, Vermaelen had two separate injections in his injured ankle last week and faces a race against time to be fit for the home leg.