Dani Ceballos is planning to return to the Arsenal team after injury by Boxing Day, rejoining full training next weekend.

Arsenal‘s latest injury update doesn’t give a specific date for a Ceballos on-field comeback. They just write that he has a left hamstring injury and will miss Manchester City, with the aim to return to full training next week.

Ceballos himself confirms this timeframe, claiming on Friday that he’s back with the team in “8 days”, so December 21st. The midfielder also gives a specific target for the date of his return to the squad – Boxing Day.

Arsenal face Bournemouth on Boxing Day, and it would definitely help to have Ceballos available.

The following two games are against Chelsea three days later and Manchester United three days after that. Even giving Mesut Özil a rest for just the final 30 minutes against Bournemouth could really help.

We don’t know yet how Freddie Ljungberg will use Ceballos. Unai Emery clearly considered the Spaniard a key part of his team, as the 23-year-old featured in every single game until his injury.

We’ll soon find out how much that is going to change under new management.