Arsenal: Ethan Nwaneri returns to training pitch as Mikel Arteta confirms rare injury boost | OneFootball

Arteta says the 17-year-old is “healing very, very fast”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful Ethan Nwaneri will return soon as the youngster is back working on the training pitch.

The 17-year-old is progressing well with his recovery and is back out working on the grass as he closes in on a return.

Nwaneri is not expected to be back for Wednesday’s night north London derby, but a return later this month seems possible.

“He is good,” said Arteta, when asked for an update on Nwaneri. “He has started to do some work on the pitch already.

“He is evolving well, he is young, he is healing very, very fast so hopefully we can have him soon.”

Ethan Nwaneri is pushing to return later this month

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal have also received good news on Jorginho, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

Jorginho and Timber were suffering cramp in the loss to Manchester United, while Calafiori missed the game with a muscle issue.

“His (Calafiori’s) thing is not too much but we need another day or two,” said Arteta.

“We’re playing every three days and 24 hours, which becomes really important because they’re not long-term injuries in that case, for example. We will have more understanding this afternoon.

“He (Jorginho) was cramping when we played extra time. Jurrien (Timber) was exactly the same. He’s fine.”