Arsenal and Chelsea handed a major boost before Premier League return after Brazil decision | OneFootball

Positive news for both Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca just days before the Premier League resumes

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Arsenal and Chelsea have been handed a welcome boost as both London clubs prepare to resume their Premier League campaigns this weekend.

There is no suggestion that either player is injured as Ancelotti has opted to ring the changes and hand opportunities to the likes of Lucas Beraldo and Luiz Henrique.

Both Gabriel and Estevao featured in the 5-0 thrashing of South Korea last week, with Estevao scoring twice to take his tally to three goals in just eight senior appearances for the national team.

While either, or both could yet make an appearance as substitutes, they should benefit from some rest ahead of returning to London in the next few days.

Gabriel had been a doubt for Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham before the international break.

However, he was passed fit to face the Hammers and played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal took advantage of Liverpool’s loss to Chelsea to go into the international break top of the Premier League table.

Estevao is in fine goalscoring form at present

Getty Images

That victory for the Blues was made possible by Estevao’s late heroics at Stamford Bridge as he scored in the fifth minute of injury-time to spark wild scenes in the stadium.

Chelsea get the Premier League restarted on Saturday with a trip to struggling Nottingham Forest, a fixture which head coach Enzo Maresca is suspended for after being sent-off against Liverpool.