Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Eberechi Eze will be available for Saturday’s game against Bournemouth, having returned to full training after missing the last three games.
The England international picked up a lower leg problem in the closing stages of last month’s 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen and had been expected to miss most of April’s games.
“He is available,” said Arteta on Friday. “He has [been ahead of schedule], my first conversation with him after he felt a niggle, he wanted to be available the next week, we knew that was impossible.
“But the recovery, the will that he’s shown from day one to get back as quick as possible, how he’s pushed the medical staff and himself to be there tomorrow, it’s just great to watch.”
Eze’s quick recovery has been offset by rumours of a setback for Martin Odegaard. The club captain, who returned from a knee injury sustained in February to feature against Southampton last weekend, limped off in the closing stages of Arsenal’s 1-0 win in Lisbon on Tuesday and may have to sit out this week’s action.
Speaking to TV 2 this week, Stale Solbakken, Norway national team coach, revealed:
“Martin ‘got one’ where he shouldn’t have, but I think he’ll be back on the field in the not-too-distant future.
“He has made a comeback and played two 60 minutes. [Now he’s had] a small setback, but it doesn’t have to mean much.”
Arteta didn’t confirm or deny the news about Odegaard. Nor would he comment on the availability of Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie except to say there have been changes since yesterday.
The manager did, though, have an update on long-standing absentee Mikel Merino. The Spaniard underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot and is racing against the clock to feature again this season.
“He’s another one that is going to push every boundary,” said Arteta.
“He’s out of his boot now. He’s doing quite a lot of exercises already. He’s reacted really well to the surgery. He’s got no pain.
“It’s more for the medical staff to go a bit further on that. But I’m sure there is a chance to make that period shorter. If there is a person who can do it, I’m sure that’s going to be Mikel again.”