Team news update: Arsenal confirm fresh injury blow but key man set to return

Arsenal get back to Premier League action after the international break when they travel to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United on Monday night.

Ahead of the game, the club have issued a team news and injury update on Arsenal.com and provided an update on the fitness of Alexandre Lacazette, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe.

Lacazette has been on the sidelines since aggravating a troublesome ankle injury during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the start of September which has seen him miss the last seven games in all competitions.

However, Arsenal have confirmed the French hitman has now returned to full training after making good progress in his recovery and could now be back in contention for the trip to Sheffield United on Monday night.

Smith Rowe hasn’t featured since suffering concussion during Arsenal’s thumping victory over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup last month but the midfielder is fully fit and available for selection.

However, there wasn’t such positive news on Nelson as the winger is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee ligament injury during the 4-0 victory over Standard Liege in the Europa League on October 3rd.

The 19-year-old missed Arsenal’s subsequent win over Bournemouth before the international break and has now been ruled out until some point in November which will come as a blow to Unai Emery.

The team news update on Arsenal.com said:

Alex Lacazette
Left ankle. Alex is progressing well and is back in full training. Decision on his participation for Monday’s match at Sheffield United will be made in the forthcoming days.

Emile Smith Rowe
Fully recovered from collision against Nottingham Forest in Carabao Cup. Available for selection.

Reiss Nelson
Left knee (ligament injury). Sustained during the Standard Liege (h) match. Aiming to return to full training in November.

If Lacazette does return to the squad against Sheffield United he will provide Emery with another top class option up front as the Arsenal boss has been heavily reliant on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the past six weeks.

Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka have been supporting Aubameyang in attack recently so one of them may have to make way if Lacazette is given an immediate recall on Monday night.