Arsenal handed huge fitness boost as 2 key players pictured at London Colney

Arsenal have been handed a timely double fitness boost as Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal have been pictured out on the training pitches at London Colney this afternoon.

Bellerin hasn’t featured since suffering a calf injury during our 3-2 defeat at Southampton earlier this month and he’s been forced to miss the last four matches in all competitions. However, the full-back is close to making his comeback as he’s been out on the training pitches this afternoon.

Monreal on the other hand has started just two games since early October after struggling to overcome a niggling hamstring injury but the left-back has also been snapped in training at London Colney today.

It appears Bellerin and Monreal trained away from the first team doing individual work with Robert Pires but it’s not clear whether they joined in later with the main group.

The defensive pair will no doubt be assessed ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Fulham but I don’t think Unai Emery and his medical staff will rush them back too soon, despite our problems in defence.

However, their imminent return to fitness will come as a major double boost as we’ve missed both Bellerin and Monreal in recent weeks. Bellerin in particular has been a huge miss down the right side with Stephan Lichtsteiner not capable of replacing the pacey Spaniard.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles could start against Fulham if Bellerin isn’t declared available for selection while Sead Kolasinac is expected to keep his place on the left if Monreal remains out.

There was no sign of Mesut Ozil at training today so it looks like he’s still out with an apparent ‘knee injury’ while Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are also still on the sidelines.