Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has declared himself fit for Thursday's Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon.
The 36-year-old missed the last three matches after sustaining a hamstring problem during the Gunners’ Premier League win over Watford last month but is now ready to return to action.
Cech’s availability poses a dilemma for head coach Unai Emery with Bernd Leno offering genuine competition for the number one spot following his £19.2million arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
Cech started Arsenal’s first seven Premier League games with Leno restricted to Europa League action and Emery’s selection in Portugal will give an indication as to whether the Germany international has done enough to become first choice in his rival’s absence.
Arsenal were due to fly out from London Colney on Wednesday with Emery ignoring his predecessor Arsene Wenger’s policy of not training at away stadia in Europe.
Despite having to play three games in seven days, Emery is expected to name a strong travelling party with Arsenal able to take a stranglehold of Group E.
Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has recovered from an ankle injury to make the trip while Emery claimed on Monday night that Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac remain doubts with minor hamstring problems.
