Arteta could unleash 'magnificent' £7m talent for Arsenal v Zurich

Arsenal contest their final Europa League group game this evening when they host FC Zurich at the Emirates Stadium.

Having missed the opportunity to wrap up qualification for the last 16 last week, the Gunners will look to finish the job.

Mikel Arteta’s charges remain top of Group A despite losing to PSV Eindhoven a week ago.

Meanwhile, the best Zurich can now hope for is a spot in the Europa Conference League.

Arsenal have also been boosted by the return of a number of players to training.

Bukayo Saka showed no ill effects after limping off against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny were back in the thick of it too.

Arteta, speaking to the Arsenal media team, provided an update on the trio.

“They are at different stages,” he said.

“Mo had a long-term injury but he has recovered now in a really good way and has been training with the team for a week or two.

Alex is just very recent and he’s had two training sessions. Bukayo just missed one or two sessions and was fine today.

“We’re using our brains and our common sense, but obviously he had a kick and wasn’t comfortable.

“We made a decision to get him off, and now he’s feeling fine.”

Arteta has been without Elneny ever since he played 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Fulham back in August.

The £7million man had been struggling with a thigh injury but is now seemingly ready to return to action.

Dependable

This is great news for Arsenal, who can call upon a superb squad player with the right talent, workrate and attitude.

Although Elneny has rarely been a regular starter, he is a dependable, reliable player who everyone at the club loves.

Several years ago, he looked all-but certain to leave the club permanently.

Elneny had a loan spell at Besiktas in 2019-20, where he excelled.

He then returned to Arsenal where he fought for a place in the squad. And Arteta loved what he saw from him.

Earlier this year, Ian Wright described him as “magnificent”, while Aaron Ramsdale said he’s incredibly competitive.

At the end of last season, the Gunners offered Elneny a new contract, which he signed.

This season is unlike any other that has come before, due to the winter World Cup.

As a result, the fixture congestion has been something else this term.

But Arsenal seem to be best placed to navigate all those fixtures and hopefully emerge with silverware at the end of the campaign.