FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.03.2010 12:52

Abidal in squad for Arsenal clash

Vanessa Forns

Guardiola has named a squad of 20 players to travel to London on Tuesday. Abidal is included despite not yet being declared fully fit by Club doctors while reserve squad youngster Jonathan dos Santos also gets the nod.

The players returned to training on Monday after their win over Mallorca and a day’s rest on Sunday. Missing from the squad are Iniesta (injury) and Chygrynskiy (ineligible after featuring for Shakthar Donetsk in the competition earlier in the season). This was the team’s final training session before flying off to England.

Abidal back with the squad

The training session, which was held behind closed doors, included Eric Abidal for the first time since he fell injured and the French fullback was welcomed by his team-mates with a round of applause. However, Abidal has not yet been cleared for action by Club doctors but was named in Guardiola’s squad for Wednesday’s match and will travel to London.

Jonathan dos Santos

Reserve team youngster Jonathan Dos Santos, who took part in the win against Mallorca and has also been named in the squad to face Arsenal, trained with the senior squad on Monday. However, Andres Iniesta is unavailable due to a muscle problem he picked up against Mallorca.

Piqué knee problem

Meanwhile, central defender Gerard Piqué is still feeling the effects of a left knee problem that caused him to miss the games against Osasuna and Mallorca, and exercised separately from the main group.

Travel plans

The players and coaches will travel to London on Tuesday morning and are scheduled to land at 11.50 local time. They will train in the Emirates Stadium at 6 pm.