Arsenal receive injury boost as key player spotted in training ahead of Ipswich Town clash

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Mikel Arteta has attempted to combat the 2024/25 campaign amid a host of Arsenal injuries.

The Gunners sit third in the Premier League table, which is two places below where Arteta would want his squad to be.

Fortunately, after two draws, Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 5-1 to return to winning ways, in what was a game of mixed emotions for the North Londoners.

While the five-star showing was encouraging and much-needed, the victory was clouded as Bukayo Saka left Selhurst Park on crutches.

• READ MORE: Arsenal handed double transfer update as Mikel Arteta reveals latest injury news

Oleksandr Zinchenko spotted in Arsenal training ahead of Ipswich Town

There’s no time for a sufficient Christmas break for the players, who reported to Colney in preparation for the upcoming clash with Ipswich Town.

Absent from training was of course Saka and Raheem Sterling, whom Arteta confirmed will miss weeks with a knee injury.

It’s been raining injuries since the start of the season at the Emirates although, the Gunners have finally received a boost.

In a festive video put together by Arsenal’s media team, the squad were spotted reporting to training, something that Oleksandr Zinchenko was a part of.

Zinchenko was considered a doubt heading into the Ipswich clash, however, the Ukrainian was seen in the gym alongside his teammates.

The capacity of the defender’s fitness is yet to be determined although, seeing him present and around the Arsenal squad is positive news ahead of a busy period of fixtures.

Nursing a minor muscle injury, there’s hope that Zinchenko can return to full action soon, in what has been a trialling campaign for the 2022 signing.

How many games has Zinchenko missed due to injury in 2024/25?

After being an integral part of Arteta’s squad during the 2022/23 campaign, Zinchenko’s chapter as a starter closed quite promptly.

Now that the sufficient upgrades have been acquired, the Ukrainian is utilised sporadically by the manager but, that doesn’t mask his importance when it comes to depth with experience. 

The issue with Zinchenko is that both on and off the pitch, the defender is unreliable, having already missed 14 games of the 2024/25 calendar at international and domestic level.

Arteta can no longer call upon the left-back to step up when required, which has ultimately pushed him further down the pecking order.