Arsenal injury news: Who is on the way back for Arsene Wenger's side as their crisis eases?
The squad's fitness problems are clearing just in time to provide their title challenge with a useful shot in the arm
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal’s title hopes may have suffered a blow with the controversial home defeat to Chelsea on Sunday but, in the treatment room at least, things are looking a little rosier.
November was the cruellest month for Arsene Wenger’s side, who saw serious injury after injury befall a number of key players.
Francis Coquelin’s medial ligament tear against West Bromwich Albion ruled him out for three months, while both Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez picked up serious knocks in a 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
All in all, at the start of December, ten first-team Arsenal players were unavailable for selection through injury.
The past month, however, has proven to be kind and several established players have or are on the verge of a return to full fitness, at just the right time to provide the Gunners’ title challenge with a useful shot in the arm.
See the long-term absentees Arsenal can now call upon again in our gallery
Sanchez, Arsenal’s talisman, has now recovered, although judging by his performance at the weekend, he may still be some weeks off achieving full match sharpness.
The same can certainly be said for Tomas Rosicky, who spent 211 days sidelined since picking up a knee injury on international duty last summer.
Coquelin is in line to return for this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Burnley, having resumed full training last Friday, while club captain Mikel Arteta also returned earlier this month, having been ruled out since November with a calf strain.
Only two players remain injured and unavailable. One, Cazorla, is not expected back until March. The other, the injury-ravaged Jack Wilshere, could make his return as early as Valentine’s Day, when Arsenal take on title rivals Leicester City.
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