Arsenal manager Unai Emery is hoping to welcome back two key players from injury for the Premier League trip to Sheffield United.
Both Alexandre Lacazette and Kieran Tierney are in contention to play some part in Monday’s match at Bramall Lane.
Lacazette has missed the last six weeks with an ankle problem, but is now back in training. Meanwhile, Tierney is yet to represent the Gunners in the league since a £25m (BBC) summer move from Celtic.
The left-back has been recovering from a double hernia operation back in May.
Tierney has featured in the Europa League and EFL Cup for his new side and is ready for his Premier League bow against the Blades.
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“Lacazette was first training today and he is feeling well. I don’t know if he is ready for 90 minutes or to be on the bench. We are going to decide in the next days,” Emery said in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by talkSPORT.
“Tierney is ready to play. We have two options at left-back. We have a lot of games and we will need every player.”
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(Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Not only could Lacazette be playing his first match since September 1 and Tierney coming into the defence, but Mesut Ozil might make also make only his third appearance of the season.
Ozil has endured a difficult start to the new campaign. The midfielder was the victim of an attempted carjacking alongside teammate Saed Kolasinac and has also struggled with illness.
Emery previously said Ozil was not deserving of a place in the side, but now appears to have changed his mind.
“The last two or three weeks his training improved. I haven’t closed the possibility of playing him,” the Spaniard said.
“If he gives us a good feeling in training, he can play. He has skills and qualities we will need in the next matches.
“Before, there were other players ahead of him in training. Now I feel really good about him.”
