Arsenal handed major injury boost ahead of PSG clash

Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost with the likes of Mikel Merino and Ben White gaining fitness ahead of their first leg Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Ben White in particular has passed fit for the game at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, after he missed last Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace along with Merino.

Both players withdrew from the squad entirely, with Mikel Arteta insisting they were not ready to even be named on the bench.

“They couldn’t be involved – if not they would have been,” Arteta said. “Unfortunately, after the game [against Ipswich] we had some issues and they are not fit.”

Asked at the time if Merino and White were fit to face PSG, Arteta said: “We’ll have to wait and see, they weren’t able to be in the squad today.”

Now, it appears both playing are actively training with the team and look likely to be named in Arsenal’s squad for the first-leg against PSG.

Defender Riccardo Calafiori has also been out since March after suffering a knee injury while on duty with the Italian national team.

Arteta confirmed recently that the defender was progressing well in his recovery in the hope that he could feature against PSG, but it appears the player will not be ready for the highly-anticipated clash for Arsenal.