Arsenal have flown out of the traps this season, and they have done so without a couple of players who many would have expected to play a big part in proceedings.
Olivier Giroud is yet to start a match in a stop-start campaign, while Aaron Ramsey – one of the stars of Euro 2016 – has been out of action through injury since coming off an hour into the opening game against Liverpool.
But manager Arsène Wenger has given fans a positive update on the pair as Arsenal return to Premier League action after their 6-0 demolition of Ludogorets in the Champions League.
Ramsey will potentially return to first team action on October 29 when the Gunners travel to Sunderland – great timing considering Granit Xhaka’s suspension has left the club a little light in midfield, even if the Swiss international traditionally occupies a different role.
🗣 “Aaron’s progressing well. He won’t be back for Reading, but he could return in time for Sunderland.”#AFCvMFC pic.twitter.com/c6K9El5u7D
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 21, 2016
Arsenal face a run of five games in two weeks, culminating in the first North London Derby of the 2016/17 season.
After welcoming Middlesbrough to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, they take on Reading (h) in the EFL Cup, Sunderland (a) in the Premier League and a trip to Bulgaria for the reverse fixture against Ludogorets.
The home meeting with Spurs, at lunchtime on November 6, could well end up being a top-of-the-table clash depending on the outcome of both teams’ fixtures this weekend and next, so Ramsey’s presence would be a huge boost for Wenger.
