Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu could feature in their squad to face Manchester United, if the defender comes through training unscathed.
Tomiyasu, 23, has missed Arsenal’s last 12 Premier League games with a calf injury.
Mikel Arteta’s side host United on Saturday in a battle for a top-four spot in the Premier League. Arsenal are level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, while United are three points behind in sixth.
And Tomiyasu may return to their match-day squad for the lunchtime kick-off, after a few false starts on his comeback.
“If he trains today and feels good, he will be available,” Arteta said on Friday. “Today we are training late in the stadium because of the turnaround.”
Arteta, however, refused to be drawn on whether Eddie Nketiah — scorer of two goals in the 4-2 win at Chelsea on Wednesday — would start against United.
“We will see,” Arteta added. “Let’s see how he recovers, how everybody is, and we’ll try to put the best possible team tomorrow to win the game.”
(Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
How much of a boost is Tomiyasu’s return?
Should Tomiyasu be available for selection, it would be a massive boost for Arteta and Arsenal.
Cedric has deputised well at right-back and is naturally more attacking than the Japan international, but is just not as reliable. Tomiyasu’s main asset is his composure both in and out of possession, able to read play well, stand firm in a challenge and progress the ball off either foot.
Given the quick turnaround between the 4-2 win at Chelsea and the United game, Arteta may be reluctant to risk him with trips to West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur still to come.
Tomiyasu has been in training since early this week, however.