Arsenal team news: Huge boost for Emery as several key men return for West Ham trip

Unai Emery has received some welcome team news after Arsenal confirmed six players have returned to full training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Ham.

Hector Bellerin hasn’t featured since suffering a calf injury during Arsenal’s defeat to Southampton last month but the defender is back in full training and should be in contention to face the Hammers this weekend, which will be a huge boost as he’s been sorely missed these past few games.

Laurent Koscielny was forced to withdraw from Arsenal’s 3-0 FA Cup win at Blackpool on Saturday after suffering a back spasm in the pre-match warm-up but the centre-back has returned to training and will be available this weekend.

Shkodran Mustafi sat out the FA Cup game after aggravating a hamstring injury during the win over Fulham on New Year’s Day while Mesut Ozil has missed Arsenal’s last three matches due to a knee injury but both players are now back in full training ahead of Saturday’s trip to the London Stadium.

Nacho Monreal has endured a frustrating campaign so far as he’s been hampered by a niggling hamstring injury that’s restricted him to just three appearances since late October. However, the Spaniard is also now in full training and could be in the squad against West Ham.

Arsenal’s options at the back have been boosted further by the news that Dinos Mavropanos has resumed full training having missed the entire season so far with a groin injury but Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck remain on the sidelines.

An early team news update on Arsenal.com ahead of the West Ham game said:

Hector Bellerin
Returned to full training.
(Left calf)

Laurent Koscielny
Returned to full training.
(Back spasm during warm-up at Blackpool)

Dinos Mavropanos
Returned to full training.
(Groin)

Shkodran Mustafi
Returned to full training.
(Right hamstring)

Nacho Monreal
Returned to full training.
(Right hamstring)

Mesut Ozil
Returned to full training.
(Left knee)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Right foot. Expected to return to full training in February.

Rob Holding
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.

Danny Welbeck
Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.

The return of six players will ease the injury list as Emery has seen his squad stretched to it’s limits in recent weeks. The defence in particular has been decimated by injuries so thankfully we should have the likes of Monreal, Bellerin, Mustafi and Koscielny back in contention this weekend.

Ozil is also now fit to return but it will be interesting to see if he starts against West Ham as Emery has axed the German playmaker in recent weeks, particularly away from home.