Mikel Arteta will be hoping for some positive Arsenal news over the next week before his side return to Premier League action against Fulham. Due to the March international break and FA Cup quarter-finals, the Gunners will have gone 16 days without a game by the time they welcome the Cottagers to Emirates Stadium.
Numerous Arsenal stars will have be in action over that period though with Leandro Trossard, William Saliba, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori just a few to have featured. The latter played just once for Italy however, before returning to London Colney early after suffering a knee injury.
There was also concern over Jurrien Timber missing both of the Netherlands' Nations League games against Spain, but it has since been revealed illness kept him out and that he is expected to be fit for the Fulham clash. Calafiori however, seemingly faces a race against time to feature in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Bukayo Saka is another dealing with an injury but the long-awaited return of the Gunners' talisman, after three months out because of a torn hamstring, is on track to occur in April, according to Arteta. "He's got a good chance [of returning in April]," the Arsenal boss said in mid-March.
"He is going to be here [at London Colney], hopefully, more with the ball at his feet than he has had. He's getting closer; he's stepping up and making very good progress." As the majority of the Arsenal squad are expected back in north London within the next few days, sessions will become much bigger.
Arteta will be desperate for those to include both Saka and Calafiori in some regard even if it is a partial return and neither are able to play a major role against Fulham next Tuesday. However, minutes off the bench and another week of training, would place them in a great position to start, if needed, the first leg at home to Madrid.
With no games being played, working towards the summer transfer window may have also been on the agenda over the two-week domestic pause. Incoming sporting director Andrea Berta appears set for a busy first trading period with a deal for Martin Zubimendi already in a good place, as football.london understands.
Alongside the hopeful addition of Real Sociedad's defensive midfielder, Arsenal are expected to be in the market for a striker with Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres among the options.
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Plenty has recently been said about the latter's reduced asking price, with Sky Sports Germany claiming he can now leave Sporting CP for a fee between £50.2million (€60m) and £58.5million (€70m), and it is perhaps worth Arsenal making a big play for his services.
While Isak may be the priority, signing him from Newcastle could prove a significant challenge and it will likely take up the bulk of the summer. But, showing a willingness to pay the set Gyokeres fee could result in Arsenal having their striker addition completed before pre-season has even started.