Arsenal star Mikel Merino is set to return from injury earlier than anticipated, handing the Gunners a big boost as they challenge Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Man City triumphant in title showdown at the Etihad
A draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would've gone a long way for the Gunners, but Erling Haaland secured all three points for the hosts in the first half, with the Norwegian blowing the title race wide open.
Man City will move top of the Premier League table if they defeat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola's side now breathing down Arsenal's necks, despite sitting in first place for just six days throughout the entire season.
Gary Neville believes injuries were partly to blame for Mikel Arteta's side falling to a defeat against City, with Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera getting the nod, given that Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were ruled out.
Mosquera-Arsenal-Arteta
"Arsenal were hampered enormously by their full-backs. I thought actually they did a good job, Hincapie and Mosquera, they really stuck to their task, but they’re limited on the ball.
"So if you think about Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly for City, or how Jurrien Timber or Riccardo Calafiori or others are for Arsenal, they were just blocked off.
"I thought they stuck to the task really well, the two full-backs for Arsenal, but you lose a lot when you lose Timber, you lose a lot. He’s a bit of a powerhouse going forward, he links really well."
However, Arteta has now been handed some more promising news on the injury front, heading into the business end of the campaign.
Arsenal's remaining Premier League fixtures Date
Newcastle United (h) April 25th
Fulham (h) May 2nd
West Ham United (a) May 10th
Burnley (h) May 17th
Crystal Palace (a) May 24th
Mikel Merino injury update
As reported by The Standard, Merino is making 'good progress' in rehabilitation for a foot injury, which has caused the Spaniard to miss the Gunners' last 19 matches.
Mikel-Merino-Arsenal
Initially, there were doubts about whether the 29-year-old would feature again this season, but he is set to return ahead of schedule, having been pictured no longer wearing a protective boot or using crutches.
Arsenal have five massive games remaining in the Premier League, so it is promising news Merino is closing in on a return, having been lauded as a "big game player" by journalist Tom Canton earlier this season.
The 41-time Spain international, who earns £130k-a-week, has previously scored against Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and France, while also finding the net against Manchester United in his final match before being ruled out due to injury.
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Kai Havertz, on the other hand, was handed a start in the trip to the Etihad Stadium, and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the German missed a golden opportunity to equalise in stoppage time.
Kai Havertz goals per season (timeless)