Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is back from his injury and available for selection in this weekend’s FA Cup fourth round game against Burnley, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.
The 24-year-old has been out of action since sustaining knee ligament damage in November.
Wenger revealed that the French anchorman has been back in training for the past two weeks and says he could now play against the Clarets at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
He told Arsenal’s official website: “Francis is available to play now because he has passed two weeks of full training.”
Coquelin picked up his injury during the 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on November 21 and was expected to be out of action for around three months, so his return is well ahead of schedule.
It remains to be seen whether Wenger risks playing him from the start this weekend.
The Gunners have been without an out-and-out holding midfielder in Coquelin’s absence, though they have recently bought the versatile Mohamed Elneny from Basel.
Stats gathered earlier this month show just how much Arsenal have missed Coquelin.
