Arsenal have confirmed Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin are closing in on returns to full training.
The Gunners forked out £25m to sign Tierney from Celtic this summer but the defender has been out of action since undergoing groin surgery.
He is continuing his rehabilitation at London Colney and Arsenal have confirmed he will join up with Unai Emery's first-team squad next month.
The news on Tierney comes as Emery prepares to let fellow defender Nacho Monreal leave the club before the European transfer window closes.
Monreal has been offered a return to La Liga with Real Sociedad for around £3m.
Emery must now decide whether to let the Spaniard go before this weekend's north London derby.
And there is more good news on Bellerin, who is stepping up his comeback from a serious knee injury.
Bellerin hasn't played since the victory over Chelsea in January but like Tierney, is expected in full training in September.
Fellow defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is also progressing well from his groin injury.
Arsenal have also issued updates on Rob Holding and Emile Smith-Rowe ahead of this weekend's north London derby.
Holding has been sidelined since last term with a serious knee problem but played the full 90 minutes for the Under-23s against Everton last week.
Smith-Rowe has also been in action, featuring in that match and for the Under-21s against Northampton in the Leasing.com Trophy.
Both players are continuing their respective rehabilitations in training.
Arsenal face off against their north London rivals this weekend as Emery bids to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
