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  "path": "/2026/04/28/arsenal-handed-double-injury-boost-ahead-atletico-madrid-champions-league-clash-28150045/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-28T11:43:48.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Atletico Madrid",
    "Champions League",
    "Eberechi Eze",
    "Kai Havertz",
    "Riccardo Calafiori",
    "Newcastle",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Madrid",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "will make a return before the end of the season.",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)\n\nEberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori both returned to Arsenal training on Tuesday in a much-needed lift ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.\n\nEze scored the winner for the Gunners against Newcastle at the weekend, but there was concern when the midfielder was forced off in the second half after receiving medical treatment.\n\nHowever, Mikel Arteta was quick to downplay the severity of the injury, with Eze himself labelling it as a ‘precautionary’ when speaking to reporters post-match.\n\nAnd Eze’s presence in training on Tuesday would appear to confirm that, with the 27-year-old in line to feature tomorrow in Madrid.\n\nThere was also good news defensively, with Calafiori taking part in training at London Colney.\n\nThe versatile defender has not featured since the 1-0 win at Sporting in the quarter-final first leg, missing Arsenal’s last four games due to an unspecified issue.\n\nHowever, there was no sign of Kai Havertz, who was forced off in the first half against Newcastle with a muscular injury.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nEberechi Eze was forced off against Newcastle (Picture: Getty)\n\nBut reports suggest that Arsenal are hopeful that the German international will make a return before the end of the season.\n\nViktor Gyokeres is expected to return to the starting lineup in place of Havertz on Wednesday evening.\n\nBukayo Saka could also make his return to the starting lineup after an appearance off the bench on Saturday, his first minutes since Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at the end of March.\n\nElsewhere, Jurrien Timber was not seen in training as he continues his rehabilitation from an ankle injury picked up against Everton last month, while Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a longer-term foot injury.\n\nMeanwhile, Atletico will hope that midfielder Pablo Barrios can recover in time for Wednesday’s match after being forced off against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.\n\nBut Julian Alvarez looks poised to return to the starting lineup after being rested during Saturday’s 3-2 league win.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Arsenal handed double injury boost ahead of Atletico Madrid Champions League clash"
}