Aaron Ramsdale hands Arsenal huge boost in race for top four as he returns to training ahead of Crystal Palace clash
AARON RAMSDALE has been spotted back in Arsenal training after missing the Gunners' last Premier League match against Aston Villa.
The return of Mikel Arteta's No1 goalkeeper has handed the Spaniard a huge boost in the ongoing race to secure a Champions League spot.
But it still might not be soon enough for the 23-year-old to return to action at Selhurst Park on Monday night.
Ramsdale sat out of the 1-0 win at Aston Villa before the international break due to a hip injury.
Arteta then confirmed on Friday that the stopper was yet to return to training.
Now though Ramsdale has been pictured back on the pitch at Arsenal's London Colney base with an enormous smile on his face.
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And in doing so he has provided Gunners fans with hope that he could feature in the clash against Crystal Palace, after initially being labelled by Arteta as a "doubt" for the game.
The Spaniard said late last week: "Aaron is a doubt, he’s still feeling not great, he hasn’t trained yet and we don’t know what he’ll be able to do on Monday.
"He wanted to play against Villa but it was a significant injury. He had to take his time.
"The physios are doing everything they can to make him available but we will see in the next few days when he starts to do real training."
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In other team news Bukayo Saka could start against Palace after recovering from Covid.
Spirits in Arsenal training on Sunday seemed high with the Gunners well-placed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
Arteta and Co can even draw themselves within two points of third-placed Chelsea with a win against the Eagles.
And Ramsdale's form has been a key part of the club's impressive form in recent months.
The keeper has starred since his £30million move from Sheffield United in the summer and firmly established himself as first choice between the sticks at the Emirates.
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The one-cap England international has kept 12 clean sheets in 24 Prem outings this campaign.
Although it still remains to be seen whether his return to training has come soon enough for him to feature on Monday night.
