Arsenal are expected to have Kai Havertz and Martin Ãdegaard available for Sunday's North London Derby, according to Mikel Arteta.
So much is riding on the upcoming duel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs aiming to secure their first result against the Gunners since Ange Postecoglou's maiden NLD at the start of the 2023/24 season.
Arsenal have won all four since, occasionally comfortably, and they enter Sunday's game as Premier League leaders. However, there's a sense that Arteta's side should be well clear at the summit, and not merely five points ahead of Manchester City. It could be just two on derby day.
Gooners tend to play up the extent of their injury woes, while us lot over here are having to deal with the reality of about six senior players being fit. We're doing well to put 11s together, and Igor Tudor has confirmed that no players will be back in action this weekend. Arsenal, on the contrary, have two big players back.
Arsenal receive double injury boost in time for North London Derby
While Ãdegaard has come under scrutiny over the past couple of seasons, with some sensing that Arteta's project has evolved beyond its captain, Arsenal's recent creative woes have shown that the grass potentially isn't greener in Ãdegaard's absence.
While Eberechi Eze had his big day out in the reverse fixture, he's otherwise been ineffective since joining Arsenal in the summer. Arteta clearly doesn't yet trust him, and Ãdegaard will surely be reintroduced to their midfield on Sunday after shaking off a minor knee issue.
The more significant news is that of Havertz, who was expected to miss Sunday's game when he suffered a muscle injury at the start of the month. But no, Arteta has said there's a "big possibility" that both the German and Ãdegaard will be fit.
Arsenal managed the first half of the season well in Havertz's absence, but their success seemingly came in spite of Viktor Gyökeres, who continues to be a sight for sore eyes every time the ball accidentally lands at his feet. Mikel Merino was a handy alternative, but he's been out with a foot injury, so Arteta has leant on Gyökeres more as of late.
However, without Havertz, Arsenal lose a superb presser and excellent dueller. He's not as imposing as Gyökeres, but he's far smarter with his body and better in the air. Defenders would much prefer facing the Swede than the astute German, who could trouble our backline with his shrewd box movement and set-piece threat.
His return is huge for the visitors not just this weekend, but for the remainder of the season. We can only hope to receive such positive news on the injury front soon!