Arsenal are reportedly confident Oleksandr Zinchenko will be fit to feature against West Ham in the Gunners’ Boxing Day clash the day the Premier League returns.
According to Football London, the 25-year-old fullback is expected to be fully fit to face the Hammers in two weeks time when top-flight English football returns following the six-week break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Zinchenko currently out in Dubai with Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The Ukrainian international missed Arsenal’s first mid-season friendly against Olympique Lyonnais, however, this absence appears to only be due to a minor injury, with Zinchenko on track to be in the Gunners’ matchday squad for Boxing Day.
Arsenal will play two more friendlies before the West Ham tie as the Gunners face AC Milan later this week in Dubai and then Italian giants Juventus at the Emirates Stadium this weekend, the final fixture of which will likely give supporters a good idea of who will be ready to play against the Irons on Boxing Day.
Indeed, the north London side have already lost Gabriel Jesus to a long-term injury this winter, which is why it is a relief that Zinchenko is expected to be fit for the Gunners against West Ham, with the left-back establishing himself as one of Arteta’s most important players this season.
With Arsenal also sitting top of the Premier League, Zinchenko’s return to full fitness will be a major boost for the Gunners, with the former Manchester City star a key clog in Arteta’s system that has got the north London side this far in the standings.
Zinchenko returning for Arsenal on Boxing Day is massive
Losing Jesus to long-term injury put a major downer across the Arsenal fanbase ahead of the Premier League restart. However, the return of Zinchenko was exactly what supporters wanted to hear, with the defender now set for a major comeback against West Ham.
The festive period is usually a time of the season that can make or break a team’s trajectory for the campaign, and for Arsenal winning every fixture will become a lot more feasible with Zinchenko back in the squad at fully fit to face the likes of West Ham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United.
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