A first return to Premier League action since New Year’s Day awaits Arsenal this weekend as they prepare to take on Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners lost that game 2-1 to Manchester City on January 1, having won their previous four, and will be keen to earn another three points to keep up the chase with the top four.
Mikel Arteta’s side are coming off the back of their disappointing 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Liverpool on Thursday, as Arteta had to operate without a number of his first team squad.
He did, however, welcome back Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard to the lineup, which will also provide a boost heading into this weekend.
Here is the current state of play at the Emirates Stadium and the potential return dates for those currently on the sidelines.
Do Arsenal have a strong enough squad to secure a top four finish this season? Have your say in the comments section below?
Cedric Soares
It was unclear as to whether Cedric would return to the Arsenal squad for Thursday’s defeat to Liverpool, but he missed out once again as he continues to recover from a hip injury.
The defender picked up the injury in the first leg clash at Anfield last week, lasting just 11 minutes before being hauled off.
There could be a chance that he will return to action on Sunday instead, although there is no certainty over that as things stand.
Calum Chambers
Calum Chambers was another player who had the potential to make a comeback from injury in midweek, but it wasn’t to be the case.
Chambers picked up a neck injury following Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool last week but the severity of it is unknown.
Arteta may have opted to exclude him from the 2-0 defeat to the Reds on Thursday to rest him for Sunday, yet it remains to be seen as to whether he will feature against Burnley.
Bernd Leno
Arsenal’s second choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno was another who missed Thursday’s clash with Liverpool after picking up a back injury.
The German goalkeeper wasn’t even fit enough to make the bench, as youngster Karl Jakob Hein had to step in on the night.
The severity of the injury is unknown and with there also being uncertainty over Leno’s future at the club, he could be expected to miss out on Sunday once again.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was set to play for Gabon at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament but has missed all three of their group games.
Aubameyang had missed out on the first two after testing positive for Covid-19, before he was flown back to London after scans had picked up heart lesions caused as a result of the virus.
He has since undergone further tests at the club but has provided a positive update on his current situation, although it remains to be seen as to whether he will feature for Arsenal again ahead of a potential departure this month.
Suspensions
Granit Xhaka will continue to serve his two match suspension against Burnley on Sunday after picking up his second red card of the season against Liverpool last week.
Thomas Partey will also miss out on Sunday following two yellow cards against the Reds in midweek - just two days after he was knocked out of AFCON with Ghana.
Africa Cup of Nations absentees
The following players will continue to be unavailable for the Gunners as they compete for their countries at AFCON 2021.
Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)
Omar Rekik (Tunisia)
