Arsenal handed double boost ahead of Palace and PSG as Merino returns to training | OneFootball

Arsenal were handed a major double injury boost at their open training session on Friday as Mikel Merino returned to full training ahead of the Premier League champions’ trip to Crystal Palace and next week’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Spain international Merino has not featured since suffering an injury in the defeat to Manchester United back in January, but the midfielder was heavily involved at London Colney and could now return to the squad for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park.

His return would provide another timely option for Mikel Arteta ahead of the Champions League final against his former club PSG in Budapest on May 30.

There was further positive news for Arsenal supporters with the vast majority of the squad taking part in the session.

Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and David Raya were all placed on individual programmes rather than the main group session, but a club spokesperson insisted there was “nothing to worry about” regarding the trio.

With Arsenal having already wrapped up the Premier League title, Arteta and his staff are carefully managing workloads ahead of the biggest European match in the club’s modern history.

Teenage sensation Max Dowman was the notable absentee from training, although for entirely understandable reasons. The highly-rated youngster is currently in the middle of his GCSE exam week.

Dowman has become one of the breakout stories around Arsenal this season and remains hugely admired within the club, but his focus for now appears to be balancing football with schoolwork.

The atmosphere around training was relaxed but focused as Arsenal prepare for a celebratory final league fixture before attentions fully turn towards PSG and the chance to crown a remarkable campaign with Champions League glory.