Arsenal full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is reportedly expected to be fit for Friday's Premier League clash with Southampton.
The 26-year-old - who has missed a good chunk of matches through injury this season - was unavailable for Sunday's London derby against West Ham United due to a groin problem.
Kieran Tierney made just his fifth Premier League start of the season in Zinchenko's place, but the Ukrainian's absence was felt at the London Stadium, as Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 for the second week running.
Zinchenko is understood to have picked up his issue during the Gunners' four-goal stalemate with Liverpool at Anfield on April 9, but his absence at the weekend was described as precautionary.
With no signs of a long-term problem, the Daily Mail claims that Zinchenko is poised to make an immediate return for the visit of Southampton to the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
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While the left-back is not guaranteed to play, the report states that Arsenal are "optimistic" about his chances of featuring for what would be his 30th appearance of the campaign in all competitions.
Zinchenko has proven to be an astute acquisition since arriving from Manchester City for €35m (£30.9m) in the summer, scoring one goal and providing two assists in 23 top-flight matches this term.
The Ukraine international has missed a further 12 games through injury, though, having suffered from knee and calf problems during the first half of the season.
When fit, Zinchenko is an undisputed starter at left-back for Arsenal, leading to speculation that Tierney could be sold in the summer in search for more minutes elsewhere.
The expected return of Zinchenko would leave Mikel Arteta with three injury concerns to work around for Friday night, as Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny continue their recoveries from season-ending knee injuries.
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William Saliba has also missed the Gunners' last four Premier League games, having sustained a back injury in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Sporting Lisbon last month.
Prior to Sunday's draw with West Ham, Arteta admitted that Saliba may take "a few weeks" to recover fully, and Rob Holding can therefore expect a fifth successive Premier League start against Southampton.
A separate report has claimed that Saliba is not expected to return in time for Arsenal's season-defining trip to Manchester City on April 26, in a game that is being tipped to decide the destiny of the Premier League title.
Arsenal hold a four-point lead over the champions at the summit, but Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand and have hit a rich vein of form at a crucial time in the season.
Victory over basement side Southampton on Friday would temporarily take Arsenal seven points clear at the top, but the Saints held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at St Mary's in October.
Ben Knapton
