Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed a double and potentially a triple injury boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Gunners reunite with their London rivals on the back of beating Oliver Glasner's men 3-2 in the EFL Cup quarter-finals thanks to a Gabriel Jesus hat-trick, which earned them a semi-final date with Newcastle United.
Arsenal navigated their clash with the Eagles without the services of five injured players, as Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko all watched on helplessly.
However, speaking at his pre-game press conference on Friday, Arteta revealed that Rice and Calafiori were back in contention, and there is a good chance that Zinchenko will be able to take part too.
Tomiyasu is still working his way back from a second knee injury of the season, though, while White will be unavailable for a few months as he recuperates from the keyhole operation he underwent in November.
Calafiori, Rice set for Arsenal returns against Palace
© Imago
"They (Rice and Calafiori) are both available to be in the squad. No Tomiyasu. Zinchenko probably available as well," the Arsenal boss told reporters at London Colney.
Rice was a surprise substitution in the second half of last weekend's goalless draw with Everton, and his change was initially thought to be tactical as Martin Odegaard was withdrawn at the same time.
However, Arteta confirmed that the England international had asked to be taken off due to a "niggle", although his absence from the EFL Cup victory was more for precautionary reasons.
Calafiori has been carefully managed since hurting his knee against West Ham United a few weeks ago, though, having already missed five games earlier this term with a similar problem he picked up in the Champions League.
Zinchenko has also been unavailable for Arsenal's last four games after sustaining a muscular problem before the draw with Fulham a fortnight ago, and his return would be timely after Kieran Tierney came off with cramp in the Palace win.
What could Arsenal's defence look like against Palace?
© Imago
With Calafiori set to be available again and Gabriel Magalhaes recently working his way back from his own injury, Arteta is finally set to have his first-choice defence available again.
The Spaniard has had to chop and change his rearguard countless times this season, but Saturday's derby should see Gabriel, Calafiori, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber work in tandem once more.
Timber started at centre-back in midweek, where Thomas Partey operated in his makeshift right-back role before being taken off at half time, allowing his Dutch colleague to revert to full-back duties.
Arsenal immediately looked more fluid with Timber on the right and Saliba at the back, as well as the introduction of Odegaard, who laid on two assists for Jesus in the second 45.
Arsenal lie third in the Premier League table heading into Sunday's clash with Palace, four points behind Chelsea and six adrift of Liverpool, who have a match in hand.
Ben Knapton
