Arsenal will welcome back Riccardo Calafiore and Ethan Nwaneri for their Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, but William Lintasa and Bukayo Saka will remain out of the squad.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that the duo will take part in Wednesday's match at the Emirates Stadium after each missed Arsenal's last three matches in all competitions against Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa, with 17-year-old Nwanyere also injured due to their 2-0 defeat. Against Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
“Very positive news. We have been missing them for a few weeks and today they returned to training. They will be available for the match,” Arteta said of the returning duo.
The Spaniard also shared some positive news about the fitness of influential centre-back Saliba, who missed the 2-2 draw with Villa on Saturday, but said tomorrow's game will be too early.
“He's developing really well,” Arteta added. “In the last few days he's been feeling really good, but this game came a little early for him.
English striker Saka is also intensifying his return after suffering a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on December 21.
“That's not going to change. I think it's within that process and it was time. That phase is over now.”
“He's doing really well. I feel better day by day but we have to respect the recovery process and then he has to go through other stages in his rehabilitation.
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Qualification by knockout is on the cards
The draw with Villa, which saw them concede a two-goal lead, saw Arsenal lose more ground in the title race. The north London side are now six points behind Liverpool having played a game more than the leaders.
But there were no such problems for Arteta's men in Europe, as the third-placed side won on Wednesday to secure their place in the last 16.
“So far we've done really well. We're in a strong position and now it's time to take advantage of our home stadium,” Arteta said of tomorrow's game and their run so far.
“The work we have done for several months, we need a strong performance against a really good team and we will try to do that.”
Automatic qualification to the last 16 with a top-eight finish brings with it the added bonus of missing out on a two-legged knockout tie, which could easily result in a reduced workload as they continue to battle it out in the league and Carabao Cup.
Arteta added: “Let's do what we have to do first, which is always difficult because we are talking about the Champions League.” “If we can do that then obviously we will have the best ideas on the table to make the right decision.
“Yes, it was very helpful (the break last season) with the schedule that we have had over the last three months, you can have a break and reset things a little bit, work on things and rest some people but some people are back. It would be great.
Arsenal transfer news
Arteta was asked about Arsenal's January transfer activity as the window enters the final 10 days, with the north Londoners in the market to add a striker.
“I understand that this happens. I get a lot of people texting me 'You're after him' and this. I don't even know what they're talking about.
“I don't follow it much. I have enough work to do on a lot of things, so I don't get distracted by it too much.”
