Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has edged closer to a full recovery from a calf problem suffered in November as he starts for the club's Under-21s against Blackburn Rovers Under-21s today.
The 33-year-old Spaniard suffered a recurrence of a calf problem in the Gunners’ 2-1 league defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion on 21st November at the Hawthorns.
The return of Arteta will come as a massive boost for the Gunners, who are struggling with injuries to many key players, especially in midfield.
Arsene Wenger has been forced to regularly play 31-year-old midfielder Mathieu Flamini, due to injuries to Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta, all of whom are ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order.
Wenger even handed 20-year-old defender Calum Chambers a rare start in midfield in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth on 28th December.
Young starlet Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who has been named on the bench in most of Arsenal’s recent matches, starts for the Under-21s alongside Alex Iwobi, who came on as an 83rd minute substitute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Bournemouth.
Arsenal Under-21s Team vs Blackburn Rovers Under-21s
Huddart, Sheaf, Pleguezuelo, Bielik, Robinson, Iwobi, Arteta, Crowley, Reine-Adelaide, Willock, Malen
Substitutes: Keto, Mavididi, Bennacer, Moore, M.Bola
