Arsenal are close to being handed a double injury boost to further strengthen their hopes of lasting the distance in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners sit third in the table but only two points off leaders Liverpool, having swept aside Newcastle on Saturday to make it six league wins on the bounce.

Mikel Arteta’s side now have a week off before they bid to make that seven in a row, when they travel to face Sheffield United on Monday night.

They will hope to have Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko in contention by then, with Takehiro Tomiyasu also potentially close to making a return. Jurrien Timber remains a long-term absentee.

Thomas Partey

After four months after with a thigh injury, Partey is close to making his first-team return for Arsenal.

The midfielder did not make the squad against Porto or Newcastle, but he did return to training last week and is stepping up his recovery.

Partey is expected to step up his recovery this week ahead of the trip to face Sheffield United, which it is hoped he will be available for.

“Obviously he’s been out for many, many months now and we need to really nail the timing and when he has enough in the tank to compete, but I think he’s very close,” Arteta said last week.

Potential return date: March 4 vs Sheffield United

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Zinchenko has been out since he was replaced at half-time against Liverpool earlier this month.

The left-back has been battling a calf problem, but Arteta has confirmed he is “not far at all” from being available again.

As with Partey, a decision on Zinchenko’s involvement at Bramall Lane will be made at the end of the week after he is assessed in training.

Potential return date: March 4 vs Sheffield United

Takehiro Tomiyasu

It has been a frustrating start to 2024 for Tomiyasu.

The defender was knocked out of the Asian Cup with Japan by Iran at the quarter-final stage, and has not played for Arsenal since after picking up a “niggle” while at the tournament.

Tomiyasu was not deemed fit enough to make the squad against Newcastle and he is behind Partey and Zinchenko in his recovery, with Arteta confirming he needs “still a little bit more time”.

Potential return date: March 9 vs Brentford

Jurrien Timber

Timber is continuing his recovery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

The Dutchman has been named in Arsenal’s squad for the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Arteta was recently asked if Timber would return before the end of the season.

“I really hope so, he’s doing really well, he’s been around some players on the pitch and we are going to start to do some bits with us in the next week or so,” the Arsenal boss said last week.

“Then we need to see how that evolves, his confidence levels, his fitness levels and hopefully then the answer is ‘yes’.”

Jurrien Timber has fully trained with the whole team, but Timber needs 1 month to maintain that before thinking about competing. So the re-export time will be April

Potential return date: April

Gabriel Jesus

Jesus though, was ready to be included again. Gabriel Jesus suffered from knee fluid in matches, which is why he has not played since January 30 and only returned as a substitute in the win over Newcastle United but did not enter the field according to Sami Mokbel.

To prevent Jesus’ injury from recurring and becoming serious in the rest of the season, the Arsenal medical team will strictly manage Jesus’ playing load (which means the number of minutes Jesus plays may be limited).

Potential return date: Unknown