Arsenal take on Brentford in the Premier League this weekend and the manager is set to see the return of two first-team players.
Midfielder Mohamed Elneny was part of Egpyt’s AFCON squad so he got an extended break but he’s returned to training and will be available for selection against the Bees.
As per reports, Elneny met with a physical trainer in the team who checked on his mental health because the midfielder was part of Egypt’s shootout upset in the final.
Apart from Elneny, Takehiro Tomiyasu has also reported back to training after recovering from his calf injury and he too will be available for selection on Saturday.
Elneny is back! 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/qdR5PBoi4H
— KingFut.com (@King_Fut) February 10, 2022
Will Tomiyasu and Elneny both feature against Brentford?
Tomiyasu has been the first-choice right-back this season and during his absence, Cedric had moved up the pecking order but now that Tomiyasu is back, he will come straight back into the first XI.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴…
■■■■■■■□□□□📺 Tune into our Tomiyasu training special now 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 15, 2022
Elneny’s return is also a boost for the Arsenal manager but the Egyptian will not get a chance to start since he’s way down the pecking order.
Mikel Arteta usually plays with a 4-2-3-1 system and it’s Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey who are the ones who play in the defensive double pivot.
If either of them doesn’t start then the Gunners boss also has Lokonga at his disposal so there’s no way Elneny is going to get game time this weekend but with his return, has surely added depth to the squad.
After selling several players in January during the January transfer window so every player who returns from injury will be a big boost for the manager. After Tomiyasu and Elneny’s return, Bernd Leno is the only one who is out with COVID while Martinelli is suspended for the Arsenal vs Brentford game.
