Arsenal star makes unexpected return to training in big title race boost

Injuries had been mounting up for Mikel Arteta in recent weeks, but the Arsenal manager has received a huge boost in time for some crucial matches

Eberechi Eze has made a welcome return to Arsenal training, delivering a massive lift to the Gunners. Concerns had been mounting the summer recruit from Crystal Palace faced a lengthy spell on the side-lines.

Having picked up a calf problem just before the international break, speculation suggested Eze could be sidelined for up to six weeks. However, in a live stream of Thursday's training session, broadcast via the club's official app, Eze was seen taking full part with his teammates.

It remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to feature in Arsenal's Premier League home fixture against AFC Bournemouth this weekend. Nevertheless, his return to training hints he could be in contention for the pivotal away trip to Manchester City the following week.

Goals and clear-cut opportunities have been in short supply for the Gunners, most notably during their FA Cup defeat to Southampton, since Eze sustained his injury. They also struggled to break down Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, though Gabriel Martinelli's pinpoint pass to Kai Havertz proved the difference as Arsenal edged the Portuguese outfit 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

There was one worrying setback from the Sporting clash, however, as Martin Odegaard was forced off during the match after picking up an injury. The skipper was among a number of players absent from training today.

Alongside Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie were also absent from training today. Calafiori played the full 90 minutes against Sporting and it is understood the Italian sat out the session purely for rest and recovery purposes, reports Football London.

Meanwhile, Saka has been absent from Arsenal's line-up since the League Cup final, while Hincapie is reportedly facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during the international break. These are all concerns Arteta must navigate as the Gunners enter the final seven games of their Premier League campaign.

The Spaniard will at least take some heart after his side bounced back from the League Cup final defeat to City and the surprising FA Cup exit to Southampton by securing a crucial 1-0 away win over Sporting. Following the match, the Gunners boss said: "Extremely happy, obviously.

"It was a big night, a big moment in the season. Especially where we're coming from. I think we had a point to prove. And yesterday I talked about identity and the things that I wanted to see on that pitch. It certainly happened.

"Certainly, there was a shift there. And then we played our opponent. It's very tricky, very difficult to play. That's the reason why they won 17 games in a row here. They haven't lost for a long, long time and really had to earn it.

"We had moments of real dominance with a lot of situations in and around the box without creating enough threat sometimes. Lacking to be a bit crispier, the movement a bit sharper, the final ball. But we took the game where we wanted.

"But after saying that, we knew as well that it's a team extremely dangerous when they have space to run, and they have two situations where David [Raya] had to intervene in a brilliant way. And then, again, the story of the season, the finish is coming when the most important part of the game is about to happen and then make the difference for us to go and win it."