Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista returns from injury, joins first team for training

Arsenal have been handed a major boost ahead of their game against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after Gabriel Paulista returned to training. The Brazilian defender suffered an ankle injury during the Gunners' pre-season clash against Manchester City and is yet to make an appearance this season.

Gabriel was pictured training with the first-team ahead of their clash against Southampton on Saturday (10 September) but is unlikely to make the squad for the game against the Saints, but with clashes in the Champions League and League Cup coming up this month it will be a major boost for Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal were left light in central defence at the start of the season following injuries to Gabriel and Per Mertesacker, but the arrival of Shkodran Mustafi during the summer transfer window will now give the manager four options, which includes Rob Holding and Laurent Koscielny, at centre-back.

The 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the final minute of Arsenal's friendly win over Manchester City during their pre-season tour of Norway and Sweden. Initially, it was feared that the injury will keep the defender for a considerable amount of time. However, Wenger revealed that it will be eight weeks out for the former Villarreal defender.

But ahead of the north London club's game against Watford prior to the international break, the manager revealed that the defender was ahead of schedule in his recovery and could return at the end of six weeks.

He seems to have stepped up his recovery further as a return to the first-team indicates that he could be available for upcoming games in the Champions League, Premier League and League Cup this month.

"He's progressing very well. He's ahead of schedule. We said six to eight weeks and we think it could be six," Wenger had said on 26 August ahead of the Gunners' game against Watford, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.