Arsenal get major double injury boost before Manchester United clash as Mikel Arteta reveals update | OneFootball

Gunners could be almost back to total full strength for high-profile Premier League showdown at the Emirates

Arsenal could have both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie back in action when they host Manchester United on Sunday.

A muscle injury forced him to pull out of the warm-up against Brighton in the Premier League on December 27 and the Italian defender has been unavailable for selection ever since.

Mikel Arteta has been coy on Calafiori’s recovery, but the player was spotted training at London Colney on Friday and could be in contention to feature against Michael Carrick’s resurgent United this weekend, if he comes through another session on Saturday unscathed.

Arsenal may also be boosted by the return of Hincapie. He has been absent since limping off in the goalless draw against Liverpool earlier this month, but could also be involved in some capacity during United’s visit having also been shown taking part in training on Friday.

Fellow defender Cristhian Mosquera has now returned from an ankle issue, leaving youngster Max Dowman as Arsenal’s only definite injury absentee as he continues to recover from ankle ligament damage sustained while playing for the Under-21s in a friendly against Manchester United in December.

The Gunners did not receive any new injury setbacks during Tuesday night’s impressive 3-1 win over Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the Champions League that sealed a top-two finish in the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition, where table-toppers Arsenal still boast a 100 per cent winning record after seven matches with only debutants Kairat Almaty left to play before the last 16.

“We still have another training session, so we will see tomorrow after that,” Arteta told reporters when asked about Calafiori and Hincapie on Friday. “After Inter we have no issues.”

Arsenal, still fighting for silverware on four fronts this season, also top the Premier League and have a seven-point buffer to title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa with 16 games remaining this term.

It could have been nine, but Arteta’s side could not break down stubborn strugglers Nottingham Forest during a frustrating goalless draw at the City Ground last weekend.

Arsenal’s lead at the summit could be whittled down to four points by the time they host United, with out-of-sorts City - embarrassed by Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League in midweek after their Manchester derby loss - entertaining bottom club Wolves on Saturday. Villa go to Newcastle on Sunday.