But due to the serious nature of his hamstring tear, a precise return date for the Gunners’ key man is not yet known.  He was able to return to light training during the club’s mid-season trip to Dubai.

The attacker travelled with his team-mates to their winter training camp in Dubai ahead of this weekend’s visit to Leicester where he has accelerated his schedule ahead of his anticipated return.

The news comes amid a raft of other injury worries for Mikel Arteta – with the Spaniard also currently missing Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli in attack at a key point in the season.

Havertz, 25, is the most recent casualty on the list, having suffered a hamstring injury of his own in Dubai.  The German suffered the blow as part of a pressing drill and follows Arsenal’s decision to opt against reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Arteta was already without Jesus for the rest of the season after he suffered a serious injury in the FA Cup against Manchester United in January.  Meanwhile, Jesus’ fellow Brazilian Martinelli could miss up to a month after coming off injured in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United.