Henrikh Mkhitaryan could return for Arsenal to face Atletico Madrid in Europa League semi-final
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger reveals that Mkhitaryan has begun running again after knee injury
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HENRIKH MKHITARYAN could return to Arsenal's squad for the Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid next Thursday.
The Armenian playmaker was set to miss the rest of the season after suffering medial knee ligament damage in the first leg of the quarter-final win over CSKA Moscow.
But Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mkhitaryan, 29, has begun jogging and could be back in full training by the start of next week.
Wenger said: "Mkhitaryan is running again and he has to progress in next three or four days to see what intensity we can have in training.
"He could possibly return on Thursday at the earliest."
The Gunners face West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday, with Jack Wilshere out with an ankle injury but Aaron Ramsey set to play despite a nasty cut to his leg.
Wenger admits that his selection to face the Hammers will be with Thursday's game, also at The Emirates, in mind.
Arsenal need to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League with a top-four Prem finish almost out of reach.
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And that could mean that £60million record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - who is ineligible to play the Gunners in Europe - is benched as Wenger looks to fine tune his side to face Atletico.
Wenger explained: "He (Aubameyang) can’t play on Thursday so I’m not sure whether to play him at the moment.
"It’s difficult for him. It was a help after most Europa League games because I could bring somebody fresh in. It’s more a handicap ahead of the Europa League. When the game becomes important, it raises the question.
"This weekend is preparing for Thursday. I rested some players after Moscow so they will need a game.
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"The Europa League is the priority as in the Premier League we don’t go for a lot. Of course it’s a need (to win the Europa League). It’s important. Atletico are a big opponent.
";It’s absolutely vital to beat them and go to the final and have a chance to win the competition. Atletico are seen as the favourite but at our best we can beat them."