Oleksandr Zinchenko has missed the last three months (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Oleksandr Zinchenko is ‘very’ close to returning to full fitness but the Gunners will be without Gabriel Jesus in the short-term.
Zinchenko missed the Gunners’ opening weekend win against Nottingham Forest as he continues his recovery from a calf injury that he sustained in May.
The Ukraine skipper has been a fans’ favourite since joining from Manchester City last term and, following injury to Jurrien Timber, his role in the side has taken on extra importance.
And the good news is that Arteta says the defender is closing in on a return to action.
‘He’s been training with us and hopefully we are going to have him available very, very soon,’ Arteta told reporters on Thursday morning.
Jesus remains sidelined A(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
There was less promising news on Jesus, who has been sidelined for the last fortnight after he was forced to undergo a knee operation.
And Arteta admits that the Brazilian is still someway away from returning to first-team action.
‘Gabby [Jesus] is still not available and not fit but the rest are all good,’ said the Spaniard.
MORE : Jamie Carragher ranks this year’s £100million midfield signings
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Oleksandr Zinchenko has missed the last three months (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Oleksandr Zinchenko is ‘very’ close to returning to full fitness but the Gunners will be without Gabriel Jesus in the short-term.
Zinchenko missed the Gunners’ opening weekend win against Nottingham Forest as he continues his recovery from a calf injury that he sustained in May.
The Ukraine skipper has been a fans’ favourite since joining from Manchester City last term and, following injury to Jurrien Timber, his role in the side has taken on extra importance.
And the good news is that Arteta says the defender is closing in on a return to action.
‘He’s been training with us and hopefully we are going to have him available very, very soon,’ Arteta told reporters on Thursday morning.
Jesus remains sidelined A(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
There was less promising news on Jesus, who has been sidelined for the last fortnight after he was forced to undergo a knee operation.
And Arteta admits that the Brazilian is still someway away from returning to first-team action.‘Gabby [Jesus] is still not available and not fit but the rest are all good,’ said the Spaniard.
MORE : Jamie Carragher ranks this year’s £100million midfield signings
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.