Arsene Wenger has welcomed Calum Chambers back into the Arsenal first team squad after a lengthy absence with injury.
Chambers has been sidelined for a month with a hip injury picked up in his first game of the season – a 1-0 win over Doncaster in the Carabao Cup – having previously struggled to regain his match fitness after joining pre-season training late.
The 22-year-old had been involved with the England Under-21s at the European Championship but his form there and at Middlesbrough earned him a two-year contract extension at the Emirates.
Chambers is unlikely to feature before next week’s Europa League tie against Red Star Belgrade but his return swells a defensive line that had been faltering in the absence of Shkodran Mustafi, who will not have recovered from his groin injury until after the international break.
A similar prognosis had been offered for goalkeeper David Ospina, who may also feature in the Europa League after recovering more swiftly than expected from a groin strain of his own. He will, however, not be available for Saturday’s Premier League game at home to Swansea.
“We have basically the squad who were available against Everton,” Wenger said. “For the rest decisions will be made over who will come in or not.
“Everyone is available who played on Tuesday night. The only players who are not completely back are of course Mustafi and Welbeck.
“Calum Chambers is back in training. [He returned to] full training on Monday. Ospina has a chance to be available against Belgrade. He will not be available on Saturday.”
