Arsenal are monitoring several injuries ahead of their Premier League restart while also pondering William Saliba’s return date.
West Ham await on Boxing Day with Mikel Arteta surveying his charges ahead of the league leader’s renewed push for the title.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt after his latest injury issue cropped up in the Dubai training camp, while Emile Smith Rowe is on the comeback trail following groin surgery.
There are also concerns over Reiss Nelson and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Here is your latest update of Arsenal injuries and return dates...
William Saliba
Arsenal welcomed the World Cup finalist back to training on Friday, giving him three days and Boxing Day morning to prove his readiness to face West Ham.
Saliba barely played in Qatar, getting only 27 minutes of action, so should be ready to go if Arteta decides he is sharp enough mentally and physically.
The Arsenal manager said on Thursday: “Let’s see - that depends on how he comes back as well. We have the data of what he’s done in training, and in terms of the actual minutes he didn’t participate much but it was a huge experience for him as well. When he gets back we’ll make the decision.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko
In only a short time at Arsenal, Zinchenko has already made three injury comebacks while being hit by knee and calf issues.
A fresh calf problem sprung up over the break and his manager has been tight-lipped ahead of the West Ham game, saying last week Zinchenko was “progressing well”.
The left-back remains a doubt for Boxing Day.
Emile Smith Rowe
After groin surgery in September, Smith Rowe is set to return in early January.
That could mean making the squad to face Newcastle on January 3 or, more likely, some role against Oxford in the FA Cup six days later.
“Emile is close, he is starting to train again,” confirmed Arteta. “He had a little setback but he is in a good place. We’ve done a lot of things with Emile - sometimes he’s been very close [to the squad], sometimes he's been in different places to see different environments, but his attitude has been great.”
Gabriel Jesus
After reports that Jesus could be back in February, Arteta has asserted that he “never gave a date” on the Brazilian’s return.
That remains the case following his knee injury at the World Cup, which required an operation.
“With Gabby it's very difficult to put a timeframe [on his recovery],” said Arteta. “It was a significant injury and knowing him, I prefer not to give any dates away. It will take some time for sure. Obviously, he’s going through surgery so that’s the extent of the injury.”
Reiss Nelson
Arsenal will play it safe with Nelson’s hamstring injury after he pulled up in the friendly defeat to Juventus on December 17.
He will certainly miss the West Ham game and potentially all of January, given he is out for “weeks”.
“Reiss, unfortunately, picked up an injury in the game against Juventus and he is going to be out for a while I think,” Arteta said. “I’m talking about weeks. Let's see how he reacts to the next few days but he felt something straight away and with sprinters, that's not a good sign.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arteta did not provide an update on Tomiyasu ahead of the West Ham game, after the Japanese full-back missed the Juve loss due to a hamstring injury.
A week ago, the Arsenal boss confirmed he was back running on the training pitches.
He therefore remains a doubt to face the Hammers.
