Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are expected to take part in u23 games after the international break, according to claims.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the warm up before the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on October 28, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 28: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during the warm-up before the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on October 28, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Twitter user ArseStat writes that both Tierney and Bellerin are scheduled to feature in u23 matches immediately after the break, with the Spaniard slightly ahead of his new Scottish teammate at this stage.

Injury analyst Ben Dinnery writes that the club claim Tierney won’t be ready for first-team action until mid-October, but it could be a little sooner.

It’s likely the duo will both feature in youth games before their full return to senior action though, as Rob Holding and Emile Smith Rowe have been recently.

Holding has played three games for the u23s in the last few weeks, culminating with the full 90 minutes against Everton last Friday. Meanwhile, Smith Rowe managed his first full 90 of 2019 against Northampton Town on Tuesday.

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Arsenal u23s have plenty of fixtures available between mid-September and early October:

  • Saturday, September 14th 12:30 – Leicester City (H)
  • Friday, September 20th 19:00 – Wolves (A)
  • Saturday, September 28th 13:00 – Liverpool (H)
  • Tuesday, October 1st 19:30 – Peterborough (A)

The Leicester game is at the Emirates Stadium, so if Bellerin or Tierney could be back in time for that one they’d be sure to get a great reception from the home support. Their progress over the next few weeks will define whether they’re ready by then.

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