KIERAN TIERNEY and Hector Bellerin are racing to be fit in time to face Manchester United next month.
The defensive duo have both missed the start of the season through injury – badly hampering Unai Emery’s plans for his side.
But the duo are now on the verge of resuming full training with the rest of the Arsenal first team squad.
And the hope is they will provide a welcome boost by being fit enough to feature in the big match at home to top four rivals United on Spetember 30.
Tierney, 22, has been unable to start his career at the Emirates since his £25million move to the club from Celtic at the start of the month.
The left-back arrived with a groin injury suffered in pre-season while still with the Scottish champions, and was expected to miss the first two months.
But the Gunners are happy with the way the Scotland international has responded to treatment and expect to clear him for full training over the international break.
Tierney would then need a period to build up his fitness having missed a part of pre-season, but the hope is he will be available by the time they visit Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Bellerin’s knee injury has been a long term issue for the right-back, who has not figured for the first team since January.
His absence has been felt hard by Emery, who loved to use the Spaniard to provide an extra dimension linking up in attack.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has come in to do an impressive job as cover, but that is not his ideal position.
And Emery is eagerly awaiting the 24-year-old’s return, with Bellerin having now trained well in limited sessions.
Again the hope is he will be able to resume full first team training early next month, and be in a position to be considered for selection by the end of September.
