Arsenal were boosted by the return to training of three of their senior statesmen and one newbie.
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy both returned to the training pitch at London Colney although the pair have yet to resume training with the first team and are still some weeks away from a return to the squad.
Arteta has been sidelined with a troublesome calf issue while Debuchy was ruled out for three months because he played Stoke.
Gabriel has also returned to training after his own hamstring problem but has gone straight into first-team training.
And as if that wasn’t enough good news for one day, Tomas Rosicky also returned to training after his illness.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky warms up during the Arsenal Training Session ahead of their Champions League match against AS Monaco on March 16, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker jokes with team mates during the Arsenal Training Session ahead of their Champions League match against AS Monaco on March 16, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger keeps an eye over the training session during the Arsenal Training Session ahead of their Champions League match against AS Monaco on March 16, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky warms up during the Arsenal Training Session ahead of their Champions League match against AS Monaco on March 16, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta warms up during the Arsenal Training Session (with Mathieu Debuchy) ahead of their Champions League match against AS Monaco on March 16, 2015 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
