Arsenal get major double injury boost ahead of Manchester United clash | OneFootball

Some good news for Mikel Arteta going into season-opener at Old Trafford

On the comeback trail: Gabriel

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Arsenal have been boosted by Gabriel and Jurrien Timber taking part in training ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Villarreal.

Gabriel had hamstring surgery in April, while Timber went under the knife in May to solve an ankle issue.

Arsenal have been carefully building up their workload and they were both among a group of players that started pre-season early in June in Marbella.

Jurrien Timber has trained with the Arsenal squad ahead of Wednesday’s pre-season game against Villarreal

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Mikel Arteta expressed confidence last week that Gabriel and Timber would be fit for Arsenal’s opening game of the Premier League season, which takes place at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.

The Gunners have been given hope that will be the case after the pair took part in training ahead the Villarreal game at Emirates Stadium.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, who missed last week’s defeat to Tottenham with a minor injury, also took part in training.

New signing Noni Madueke is in training and could make his debut this week, with Arsenal also hosting Athletic Bilbao in a friendly on Saturday.

Madueke has been in training since last week, returning early from his holiday so he could hit the ground running following his move from Chelsea.

Marli Salmon and Max Dowman - both just 15 - also trained with the first team and could feature in this week’s friendlies.

Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori were absent from the photographs published by Arsenal following training this week.

Calafiori tweaked his knee during a win over Newcastle in Singapore, but Arteta has said he expects him to be fit for the start of the season.

Trossard appeared to pick up a muscular injury in the loss to Spurs and Arteta explained afterwards that he would be assessed.