Arsenal Handed Major Injury Boost As Star Hopes To Return Against Swansea

Arsenal look to have been handed a major injury boost with Spanish journalist Eduardo Fdez-Abascal claiming that Hector Bellerin’s latest ankle injury is not serious and he hopes to face Swansea City.

Bellerin missed Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup third round win over Preston North End after suffering an ankle knock during training at London Colney on Friday afternoon [source: ESPN].

The Spanish international was scheduled to undergo a scan today to determine the full extent of the injury with the club understandably sweating over the results given Bellerin’s recent ankle problems.

The 21-year-old missed a month after picking up an ankle injury during the final minutes of our 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the Emirates at the start of November and the issue was aggravated while away with the Spanish U23’s the following week.

However, it looks like we’ve been given some positive news as Fdez-Abascal – who works for the International Business Times and Spanish outlet Diarioas – has claimed that Bellerin’s injury is not serious.

The Spanish journalist goes on to say that the right-back will have treatment on the injury this week and is hoping to feature when we take on Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Told Hector Bellerin injury is not serious. He's going to have treatment during the week with hopes to play against Swansea. #Arsenal #afc

— Eduardo Fdez-Abascal (@efabascalUK) January 9, 2017

There has been no official word from Arsenal as yet but if true, this news will come as a major boost as it would have been a significant blow had Bellerin been ruled out with another ankle injury.

We don’t have any proper back-up behind Bellerin as Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson are out-of-favour while youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles showed against Preston that he’s not yet ready to play regularly at the highest level.

Gabriel did deputise at reasonably well during Bellerin’s previous absence but he’s not a specialist right-back and lacks the pace and crossing ability that Hector offers going forward down the flank.

Therefore, I’m sure it will come as a relief to Arsene Wenger if Bellerin has been given the all clear so let’s keep our fingers crossed that he able to line-up against the Swans on Saturday.