This Arsenal player can come out of Mikel Arteta wilderness to save Premier League title dream

Arsenal need to bounce back after the international break. The Gunners have dropped nine points off Liverpool's Premier League-leading pace having failed to win any of their last four top-flight matches.

Mikel Arteta's side have drawn two and lost two of their four matches between the October international break and the November one which is about to come to an end.

The Gunners need to turn their form around when Premier League football returns this weekend. That starts with a home match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

Things have not been smooth sailing for Arteta behind the scenes, with a number of injuries hitting the Gunners hard. Captain Martin Odegaard has been missing for a lengthy period of time, while the likes of Jurrien Timber, new signing Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Ben White are amongst first teamers who have also been out of action at various times.

But one player, who looked like he was out in the wilderness under the Spanish manager, could be set to return to boost the club's hopes just when they need it.

Kieran Tierney has been out in the cold under Arteta, having spent last season on loan with Real Sociedad. The Scottish international looked set to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer but a thigh injury put paid to any exit.

Tierney has returned to training now though and with Calafiori, Timber and White all having had injury issues, the Scot could be back in action at the perfect time. Tierney has been spotted in training at London Colney ahead of the game with Forest.

Speaking at the end of last month, Arteta said: "I think he's quite close. He's looking really good. I think he's over the period where he was still struggling, so he looks really sharp out there. He hasn't trained with the team yet, but hopefully, he can do that in the next week or two."

Arteta saying Tierney has been looking "really good" could be a hint that he's ready to trust the Scottish international once again. Tierney has shown he is more than capable of stepping up into the first team, having previously been the first-choice left-back. He will be a welcome return.

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