Arsenal handed stunning triple injury boost for Villarreal

Mikel Arteta addressed the media ahead of Arsenal traveling to Spain to face Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, revealing some miraculous injury news for the meeting.

Preparations for the biggest fixture of the season for the Gunners has been anything but ideal. Off-field matters will doubtlessly be playing in the minds’ of the squad, perhaps so too the manager, but they haven’t helped their case with two woeful results in the games prior to Thursday.

A weak performance against Fulham was marred by a hamstring injury to Alexandre Lacazette, while the following visit of Everton didn’t produce any fresh fitness concerns but left plenty of emotional scars.

Centre-forward was an area of concern heading into the crunch clash with Unai Emery’s side, and Arteta has provided some hugely welcome news with both Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are in contention to feature, as relayed by Simon Collings.

Arsenal handed stunning triple injury boost for Villarreal with Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all in contention

Eddie Nketiah led the line against the Toffees in the Premier League and failed to take his opportunity, leaving supporters concerned over their chances at Estadio de la Cerámica for the first leg.

However, it’s in defence where miracles have been worked.

Somehow, having gone from being set to miss the entirety of the season, or at least the vast majority of it, Kieran Tierney is now in the same boat as his teammates, deemed ‘in contention’. What is in the Scottish water?

Suffering ligament damage that fortunately didn’t requite surgery, his potential return is perhaps most important of all.

It will come as a monumental boost to Arsenal who’ve missed his presence in the side whenever he’s been sidelined, and now significantly increased their chances of progression to the final, even if he only manages to play in the second leg.

"Arteta said of the left-back: “He has been working like a beast every single day. I don’t know if he is going to make it tomorrow but he wants to be as close as possible to that pitch.”"

That follows on from David Luiz being back in training and in line for a first starting since March 21, having undergone minor surgery on a knee problem.

Martin Odegaard is also back from injury at a pivotal time, breathing new life into Arsenal’s faltering season.

In the case of all four, albeit less so Lacazette, they’re lacking match sharpness and a sudden assumption to walk over Villarreal is the wrong course of action. But, there is no kidding anyone, this means a lot.