Arsenal have been handed a triple injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester at the weekend.
Mikel Arteta's side began brightly with a 2-0 win away at London rivals Crystal Palace in the curtain-raiser last Friday night. They achieved the impressive win despite missing a clutch of senior stars. But in a major boost ahead of their first home game of the campaign, the trio of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe have all resumed training.
They were all pictured taking part in a Gunners' training session at London Colney on Tuesday. Whilst Tomiyasu and Smith Rowe are fan favourites, the player Arsenal fans will most be looking forward to seeing is new signing Vieira.
Vieira signed for the Premier League giants last month, making the switch from FC Porto in a deal which could eventually rise to around £34million. There are high hopes for the creative midfielder, who is expected to make an instant impact within Arteta’s top-four chasing squad.
The Portuguese is nursing a bone injury in his foot and has only just now returned to full training with his new employers.
Speaking last month in the midst of pre-season, Arteta said: "He had a slight problem in his bone (in his foot) and hopefully he will start to train in the next week or so,” the Spaniard said in mid-July. "We have Kieran (Trippier) with a slight problem, we have Emile (Smith Rowe) as well with a muscular niggle, Tomiyasu as well and Ben (White). The rest are fine but it’s a matter of days with those guys."
With regards Tierney and White, they both played in that opening night win at Selhurst Park but the other three are still awaiting involvement.
Saturday's visit of Brendan Rodgers' side may now well see them involved although Arteta may be reticent to change a winning side.
Speaking post-match after that win, Arteta said: "Coming out of this game with three points and with a really positive start, it is tough to come here.
"We had some really good moments, especially in the first half, where we probably should have scored another one or two. And I am really pleased as well because there are going to be moments here where the game becomes really physical, they are going to put you under pressure, and we managed to deal with that.
"The team came here to play the way we wanted to play - we were dominant, we were a threat, we were really lively and sharp from the beginning. Then when we felt under pressure we coped with that with resilience. I have had this feeling for the first few weeks since the boys started pre-season. They are ready, the look hungry, with that mentality that they really want to win. Clean sheet in this league is crucial to win football matches. When you do that you have big chances to win football matches."
