ARSENAL have been handed a fitness boost as Gabriel and Kai Havertz are closing in on a return.
The Gunners have been hit hard by injuries this season and Mikel Arteta said last week how they are stuck in a “dangerous circle”.
Defender Gabriel, 28, has been out of action since the middle of last month after injuring his thigh playing for Brazil in a friendly against Senegal.
Havertz has not played since the opening day of the season, when he picked up a knee problem that required surgery.
Both players will not be fit for Arsenal’s trip to Everton on Saturday – but they are close to returning.
Arteta said: “He (Gabriel) is pushing hard, as he always does every time he’s out.
“He is evolving really well, he is doing pitch sessions so he’s not too far.
“We have to see in the last stages of that rehab how he progresses – but we are quite positive about him.
“He (Havertz) is progressing really well and quite fast in the last few weeks.
“We are really positive that if everything continues like that in the next training sessions, he’s going to be with us.”
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ARSENAL’S INJURY PROBLEMS
A NUMBER of Arsenal players including Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber returned to action against Wolves last weekend
But there are still injury issues set to disrupt the Gunners as they battle through the congested festive period of fixtures.
Currently injured:
Kai Havertz – Knee – 23 games missed
Gabriel – Hamstring – 10 games missed
Cristhian Mosquera – Ankle – 3 games missed
Max Dowman – Ankle – 2 games missed
Ben White – Hamstring – set to miss multiple games
Asked if he had an exact game in mind when Havertz may return, Arteta said: “I do.
“But I don’t want to say because, again, I think in that last part of [recovery], especially after such a long time, that after the rehab, I think we need to be cautious.
“And we need to go really firmly with every step that we take along the way to make sure that when he’s back, he’s back and he’s back for the long term.”
Arteta confirmed that defender Ben White is set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring last week.
He said: “He’s evolving well, it’s not a major injury, but it will keep him out for a few games.”
