Arsenal have suffered with persistent injury problems this season which has paused their hopes of a Premier League title unless they can rediscover some major consistent winning form. That starts this weekend when Nottingham Forest come to the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta has been able to work with plenty of his squad over the break who have not gone away with their respective nations for a variety of reasons. However, it is still true that injuries are plaguing the side.
David Raya is thankfully fit as is both William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes who make up three of the back four and goalkeeper positions. With Ben White expected to be out for an undisclosed period of time after a minor procedure, Jurrien Timber is therefore likely to move to right-back.
At left-back there is hope that Riccardo Calafiori recovers from his latest injury issue. However, should he not then Myles Lewis-Skelly who impressed again for England’s Under-19s could yet get the nod over Jakub Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Into midfield and Thomas Partey did not join up with Ghana but there has been no suggestion of an injury and so should be available barring any late indications to the contrary. Declan Rice did miss international duty through injury and therefore Mikel Merino will get another start in the hope of improving his own form.
