Mikel Arteta confirmed that Martin Zubimendi will be available for selection despite not being pictured in training this week, and also issued injury updates on Ben White, Gabriel and Kai Havertz ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Everton this weekend.
Zubimendi, who has registered 1,757 minutes this season - more than any Arsenal player apart from David Raya - was not seen in training, but Arteta has assured that there is no concern.
"That was load management for a few players that played a lot of minutes recently," he explained.
However, the festive period doesn't bring all good news, with Ben White sidelined once again after suffering a hamstring issue in the 2-1 win over Wolves, having seen his workload increase amid injuries across the Gunners' backline.
The 28-year-old has had a torrid time with injuries in recent seasons, missing more than 25 games last season with a knee issue, but there is hope this latest setback is not a major concern this time around.
"He's out, he's evolving well, it's not a major injury, but it will keep him out for a few games," Arteta said.
"I don't think it's going to be [a major concern] and Ben is a really fast healer as well so there's hope that we're going to have him in the next few games."
Meanwhile, Havertz, who has been out since the first game of the season, is 'progressing well', and having him back shortly after the New Year would be a big boost for Arsenal.
"He's progressing really well and quite fast in the last few weeks. We are really positive that if everything continues like that in the next training sessions, he's going to be with us," Arteta said.
On Saturday evening, Arteta goes up against the man who gave him his first taste of Premier League football as a player, and the Spaniard expressed his 'admiration' for David Moyes, both on and off the pitch.
"I think that's the word [admiration] that I would use. Gratitude and admiration. I think he taught me the love that goes for the game and then the integrity that the game requires at any cost."
Moyes has done a stellar job so far in Merseyside, guiding Everton into a promising position, having won three of their last five games.
With Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye unavailable due to AFCON, and further injury concerns for Jack Grealish, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite, Arsenal should be able to navigate their first-ever trip to Hill Dickinson without too many jitters and secure another crucial three points.