Nicosia Gooner
11-05-2013, 09:40 PM
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed defender Mats Hummels is in line to miss the Champions League tie.
Arsenal have been handed a boost ahead of their Champions League visit to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed central defender Mats Hummels will miss the match at the Westfalenstadion.
The 24-year-old is suffering back and thigh problems, and Dortmund feel they cannot take a risk no matter how important the game.
He told kicker.de: "He can not play at 97.5 percent."
The website report that Dortmund feel there is only a 'minimal chance' the defender will be passed fit, although he will be assessed in the lead up to kick-off.
Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos will be called up to partner Neven Subotic in Hummels' absence, the centre-back signed from Werder Bremen over the summer who has made four Bundesliga starts and scored once this season.
Hummels played all 90 minutes at the Emirates and was superb, also playing the entire game in Dortmund's 6-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday.
It is a testament to Jurgen Klopp's respect for Arsenal that he feels he cannot risk Hummels even though as he puts it he is '97.5 per cent fit.'
If the Gunners needed a big boost then this is potentially it. Hummels is the mainstay of Dortmund and Germany's backline, and has been recently linked with a transfer to Barcelona.
Arsenal have been handed a boost ahead of their Champions League visit to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed central defender Mats Hummels will miss the match at the Westfalenstadion.
The 24-year-old is suffering back and thigh problems, and Dortmund feel they cannot take a risk no matter how important the game.
He told kicker.de: "He can not play at 97.5 percent."
The website report that Dortmund feel there is only a 'minimal chance' the defender will be passed fit, although he will be assessed in the lead up to kick-off.
Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos will be called up to partner Neven Subotic in Hummels' absence, the centre-back signed from Werder Bremen over the summer who has made four Bundesliga starts and scored once this season.
Hummels played all 90 minutes at the Emirates and was superb, also playing the entire game in Dortmund's 6-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday.
It is a testament to Jurgen Klopp's respect for Arsenal that he feels he cannot risk Hummels even though as he puts it he is '97.5 per cent fit.'
If the Gunners needed a big boost then this is potentially it. Hummels is the mainstay of Dortmund and Germany's backline, and has been recently linked with a transfer to Barcelona.