Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is happy with the return of Ethan Nwaneri ahead of the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League tie with Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
The 17-year-old has been out of action since the start of the year when he came off with a muscle injury in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The absence of Nwaneri, who has five goals in 18 competitive appearances this season, left Arsenal short of options on the right flank, with star player Bukayo Saka sidelined with a thigh injury.
Arteta has now confirmed that the Arsenal academy graduate and Riccardo Calafiori will be available for the match against Zagreb.
“Very positive news. Obviously, we missed them [Nwaneri and Calafiori] for a few weeks and they returned today for training, so they will be available for the game.”
On Nwaneri’s absence, Arteta said: “It was a big setback because he was getting some consistency, more minutes. We made him play in a different position. He was doing really well and suddenly this happens. It’s understandable, obviously, the load as well goes through the roof immediately and that’s things that we have to manage.”
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Arsenal are currently fifth in the Champions League standings and will most likely book their place automatically in the round of 16 if they get the better of Zagreb.
