Unai Emery revealed three Arsenal defenders could make a return to action against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, with Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney all in line to play.
The trio have not managed a single minute of first-team action between them this season due to injury, with Tierney yet to make his debut after a £25million switch from Celtic in the summer.
Bellerin and Holding have both been struggling with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, while Tierney has been suffering with a groin issue.
Full-backs Bellerin and Tierney both completed 62 minutes for the Under-23s on Friday night and Holding has made four appearances at that level, but all could be thrown in against Forest.
‘We are going to decide [on Monday on Bellerin and Tierney],’ Emery said. ‘The first idea is if we can they’ll have minutes on Tuesday.
‘It depends on their feelings and the decision for the first XI.
‘It’s not normal [to play twice] in two days. We need fresh players and different players.
‘I think it’s not going to repeat one player playing today and above all with one less player in 60 minutes. Holding, I think, will play on Tuesday.
‘With Hector and Tierney we will want to use them. I don’t know if it’s starting in the first XI. If they’re feeling well.’
