The number of players on the Arsenal treatment table seems to be reducing, something that rarely happens over an international break in recent times.
The interlull could still wreak havoc on the squad, but for now things are going well.
In fact, Injury Data Analyst Ben Dinnery tweeted that Coquelin is now back in full training, and Welbeck and Özil should be back on Monday.
Francis Coquelin [hamstring] is back in full training while Danny Welbeck [groin] and Mesut Ozil [knee] should return on Monday. #AFC pic.twitter.com/S2pNefNQ8J
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) October 5, 2017
So where does that leave us with injured players?
1. Mesut Özil
As mentioned, Özil should be back in full training on Monday, after his knee inflammation appears to have subsided. This means he could be available for next weekend’s match against Watford. He was left out of the Germany matches over the international break so he could focus on his recovery.
2. Laurent Koscielny
Similar to Özil, Koscielny missed out on the international break thanks to his Achilles issue, but should be back for the Watford game.
3. Danny Welbeck
Welbeck has been out a little longer, since the mid-September game against Chelsea, but once again he could be back for Watford. That was the most recent target given by Arsène Wenger, and it appears he’s on track given he’ll be rejoining training with Özil.
4. Francis Coquelin
Coquelin has been out since the start of September, so he may take a bit longer to be match sharp than the others, but given he’s back in full training it shouldn’t be long now. Maybe Watford is too soon, but if all goes well the next match against Everton shouldn’t be unrealistic.
5. Calum Chambers
Another player likely to return against Everton, Chambers was only expected to be out for a couple of weeks after the Doncaster match on September 20th.
6. Santi Cazorla
Cazorla is still three months away, but things seem to be going better now, with Arsène Wenger saying (via football.london): “The first signs are positive, but still he has not played for one and a half years.
“He is not in full training yet, he needs a few games with the reserve team. So I think if all goes well, it will be after Christmas.”
7. Full timetable
So if all goes well, the injury timetable is as follows:
Watford (a) – October 14th 2017 – Özil, Koscielny and Welbeck return.
Everton (a) – October 22nd 2017 – Coquelin and Chambers return.
Chelsea (h) – January 1st 2018 – Cazorla returns.