Arsenal have received something of a boost, as both Mikel Arteta and Laurent Koscielny were both back in training on Saturday.

The French centre-half was only on the bench for Wednesday’s 5-1 defeat in Munich after suffering a hip injury. If he’s fit to play, the defender is certain to get in Wenger’s side for a game as huge as the north London derby.

Arsenal have depth at the back (unlike midfield right now) but having Koscielny is undoubtedly a boost.


An ankle issue has kept Arsenal captain Arteta recently: he has only played nine minutes since the 5-2 defeat of Leicester City back in September. As a result, the Arsenal bench has looked thin at times.

The League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday saw Glen Kamara start and Krystian Bielik come off the bench, both for their debuts. With the squad looking thin, Wenger will be glad to have his captain back again. Defensively intelligent and calm on the ball, Arsenal could need him badly on Sunday when the pressure’s on. For all his age, the midfielder is probably still the best manager of a game in the Arsenal squad.

David Ospina was also back, and could replace Matt Macey on the bench but is unlikely to play a part. (Touch wood.)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Héctor Bellerín should be back in a fortnight, but Sunday comes too soon for them as well as more long-term absentees Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.