Arsenal star Piero Hincapie has returned to training ahead of Mikel Arteta’s team’s clash with Fulham on Saturday.
The Gunners travel to West London to take on the Cottagers, looking to cement their position at the top of the Premier League.
Martin Odegaard will miss the game with a knee injury, while the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke remain long-term absentees.
However, Arteta will now have Hincapie at his disposal, after the Ecuadorian took part in opening training on Thursday morning, according to journalist Sam Blitz.
The defender has made just one appearance for his new club so far, having struggled with a groin injury over the last month.
Piero Hincapie could unlock Eberechi Eze for Arsenal
Arsenal signed Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day.
The versatile 23-year-old joined on an initial loan deal, although the move is expected to be made permanent for around £45 million next summer.
Renowned for his pace and ability to overlap the winger ahead of him when he’s deployed as a full-back, Hincapie could unlock Eberechi Eze as a wide man.
Eze may spend the next few weeks in a central role in Odegaard’s absence, but the former Crystal Palace star is expected to be primarily used off the left for the Gunners.
The England international is better operating in tight spaces in the left-half space than he is out on the touchline, and thus, Hincapie’s runs outside of him should allow him to come inside and influence the game.
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