Arsenal given significant injury boost as forward duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli near return

Both players are currently sidelined with hamstring injuries, Saka having been absent since before Christmas with a particularly serious muscle tear that required surgery. Martinelli followed his team-mate into the treatment room when he picked up an issue in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle, but The Mirror reports there is hope that both players could play a full part in the run-in in April and May.

Injuries to Saka, Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have left Mikel Arteta's side incredibly short in attack, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri their only recognised senior forward players. Arteta used Mikel Merino as an emergency centre-forward at Leicester on Saturday and was rewarded as the Spaniard scored a match-winning brace off the bench.

Thomas Tuchel names his first squad as England manager next month and is very unlikely to have Saka to call upon. The Three Lions play Albania and Latvia in 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Wembley but must cope without a mainstay of their side over the last three years.

The return of two key attacking players would be a huge boost for Arteta, whose side could still make this a memorable campaign. The Gunners trail Liverpool by seven points with 13 games to play in the Premier League campaign, while they are also in the last 16 of the Champions League.