Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is targeting a return to action against former club Manchester United after recovering from a metatarsal injury ahead of schedule.
The 29-year-old has been missing since December 19 after sustaining damage to his right foot during the Gunners’ 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.
Mkhitaryan was not expected back in action until next month but his rehabilitation has gone better than anticipated and is expected to resume full training within the next week.
That means he could play some part against United – where he spent two years until forming part of a swap deal with Alexis Sanchez to join Arsenal last January – when they arrive in north London for next Friday’s FA Cup fourth round clash.
Aside from long-term absentees Rob Holding (knee) and Danny Welbeck (ankle), Emery is not thought to have any other injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s visit of Chelsea.
Hector Bellerin was only deemed fit enough for the final 21 minutes of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham after recovering from a calf problem but is likely to return to the starting line-up.
Mesut Ozil has no fitness concerns but head coach Unai Emery has opted to leave the £350,000-a-week midfielder out of late and it remains to be seen whether he has done enough in training to earn a recall when fourth place takes on fifth on Saturday.
