MIKEL ARTETA can now start formulating his line-up for a return to Premier League football on June 17.
A daunting trip to Manchester City is first up for Arsenal, who are hoping to welcome some injury absentees back into their squad.
Calum Chambers is training after surgery on knee ligament damage initially expected to keep him out until September.
It remains highly unlikely that he will play much this season however, but the defender confirmed recently that his operation “went well”.
January loan signing Cedric Soares has joined his new teammates for the resumption of training as he pushes for a first appearance for the club.
A question mark hangs over Lucas Torreira’s availability also after the Uruguayan suffered an ankle injury in March.
The midfielder headed back to South America during the initial phase of the coronavirus lockdown for treatment.
Should he not make it back in time, Torreira’s absence will likely keep Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka in the two central midfield roles.
It is in defence where Arteta has his biggest conundrum with David Luiz set to leave on June 30.
Should he choose not to play the Brazilian, the Arsenal boss could go with Pablo Mari alongside Sokratis Papastathopoulos as his centre-back pairing.
A selection decision must also be made between Bukayo Saka and Sead Kolasinac at left-back, with Kieran Tierney to consider if the Scot is fit for action after overcoming a shoulder problem.
Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil are well-primed for a start in the first game back.
Who joins them to complete the Gunners’ attacking quartet is still very much in the balance.
Eddie Nketiah was given a run of games before football’s shutdown, jumping ahead of the out-of-sorts Alexandre Lacazette and fellow youngster Gabriel Martinelli.
With three starts and a goal in Arsenal’s previous three league games, Nketiah is perhaps the favourite but Lacazette’s winner versus West Ham last time out may have elevated him back to the starting XI.
