Carl Jenkinson came through a 45-minute run-out for Arsenal's reserves on Tuesday unscathed, but Marouane Chamakh is still nursing a toe injury.
Jenkinson making progress, but Chamakh is still struggling
Carl Jenkinson came through a 45-minute run-out for Arsenal's reserves on Tuesday unscathed, but Marouane Chamakh is still nursing a toe injury.
The Gunners' second string swept aside Norwich in their latest fixture, with a number of senior stars involved in a comfortable 5-0 win.
Among those to be given an outing was 20-year-old full-back Jenkinson.
The youngster has been out of action since November, with a stress fracture in his back having kept him sidelined.
He is, however, set to hand Arsene Wenger a welcome fitness boost ahead of Sunday's derby date with Tottenham.
Positive
"Carl was planned to play 45 minutes and also Benik Afobe, so everybody has come through okay," reserve team coach Neil Banfield told the club's
official website.
With Per Mertesacker, Sebastien Squillaci and Francis Coquelin set to miss the Spurs game, Jenkinson is expected to be drafted back into Wenger's plans.
The Gunners are, however, still waiting on news regarding the possible involvement of Chamakh.
The Morocco international has only recently returned to England from the Africa Cup of Nations and Tuesday's game against Norwich was his first since arriving back at Emirates Stadium.
He was carrying a toe injury heading into that game and Banfield admits the problem is still causing him discomfort.
He said: "Marouane had a bad toe coming into this one but to be fair to him he wanted to give this game a go. But he could only last for half-an-hour and he had to come off.
"Marouane will be alright, it is just a bad toe I think at the moment."
