Arsenal: Per Mertesacker and Hector Bellerin return to first-team training ahead of Chelsea clash

Arsenal have received a double boost ahead of their summit clash against Chelsea after Per Mertesacker and Hector Bellerin returned to training with first-team squad after recovering from their injuries.

Arsene Wenger had revealed during his press conference on Thursday that the German centre-half was 50-50 to participate in the game against the Blues on Sunday, 26 April, as he was yet to recover from the knock he suffered during Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final clash against Reading on 18 April.

"Mertesacker is still in the treatment room. I don't know if he's available. He is 50-50 at the moment. He has not practised at all. If Mertesacker is not ready then Gabriel will play," Wenger said.

It was believed that Gabriel deputised for the Gunners vice-captain, but Mertesacker has handed the boost and could be in-line to captain the side, due to Mikel Arteta's absence, after training with the first-team on Saturday.

"Nobody wants to miss such a game. Worked very focussed the whole week to train today with the team," Mertesacker stated on photo sharing site Instagram.

Apart from the German, it was believed that right-back Hector Bellerin, who has had a breakthrough season with the north London club, will also miss the clash after Wenger had revealed that the Spanish U21 international was playing with ankle problems in recent games.

However, Bellerin has revealed that he is back in training and ready for the visit of the Blues after posting a picture of him training with the first-team on social photo sharing site Instagram.

"Prep all done for the big game tomorrow. Let's do this!" the former Barcelona youth team player stated.

The Spaniard, who joined Arsenal from the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona, has gone on to make the right-back slot his own in the absence of Mathieu Debuchy. The Frenchman has since returned from injury and took his place on the right side of defence for Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final clash, but later revealed that he was still not fully fit.

The return of Bellerin and Mertesacker will be a big boost for Wenger, as he can stick to the same defensive partnership that has served them well in their recent eight-game winning streak in the Premier League.