Laurent Koscielny is expected to recover in time from the dead leg suffered in that unforgettable 2-1 victory over Leicester City last Sunday as Arsenal prepares to entertain Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round.
The Arsenal fans will still be buzzing from that victory, but it is back to cup action now as Arsene Wenger's men continue the defence of their title against the team they beat in the 2014 final to clinch their first of two consecutive FA Cups.
Koscielny should be available, according to Wenger, while fellow centre-back Gabriel is expected to be back next week, when Arsenal travels to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the English Premier League.
"Koscielny will be available," Wenger told the club's official website. "[Gabriel] is running outside. He is out for Saturday. I believe one more week. He started running, but one more week [before he returns to first team action]."
With the Arsenal injury crisis easing considerably, Wenger only has three major absentees to deal with, long term, and even that could ease in the next few weeks. Jack Wilshere is back running again, along with Santi Cazorla, and the two are expected to return to action sometime next month.
For the here and now, though, Wenger has a few team news decisions to make, with the manager pondering on rotating his squad. With Hull flying high in the Championship, though, it will be about how much he can rotate the squad, even if he has plenty more options available now, chief of them being the return of Danny Welbeck after 10 months out.
"I might start him," Wenger said of the England striker. "I haven't completely decided yet. It crosses my mind to start him."
The Arsenal manager also revealed Petr Cech will be rested for David Ospina, while Mohammed Elneny is set for another run-out, after doing pretty well in the last FA Cup match, a 2-1 win over Burnley.
"Elneny is fit," Wenger added. "He is one of the players who could get a run there. He's mobile, he's a very good player. He's adapting at the moment and I think he's there now. We'll certainly see him against Hull. He has a chance to start."
While Wenger considers rotating his squad, Hull City manager Steve Bruce confirmed he would, promising "sweeping changes."
"There will be sweeping changes," Bruce, who team are the top of the Championship, told the club website. "It's not something that I want to harp on about but we've been dealt a difficult one with television requirements and ten games in 33 days is a ridiculous schedule for any club.
"Yes, the FA Cup is the FA Cup and we had what was probably the best day out in this club's history two years ago, but our prime focus has to be on returning to the Premier League."
On loan Arsenal players Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden are ineligible to face their parent club.
Expected lineups: Arsenal: Ospina; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Elneny; Campbell, Iwobi, Welbeck; Walcott.
Hull City: McGregor; Odubajo, Dawson, Davies, Robertson; Snodgrass, Livermore, Powell, Huddlestone, Clucas; Hernandez.
