ARSENAL welcomed several key players back to training

ARSENAL welcomed several key players back to training this afternoon ahead of their Europa League clash with Valencia on Thursday (8pm).

Rob Holding was spotted taking part in light training on Wednesday (Image: GETTY)

The Gunners will have been pleased to see a number of stars on the training pitch at London Colney after being sidelined by injury in recent weeks.

Both Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal were put through their paces in the run up to the Europa League semi-final first leg, having missed the 3-0 loss to Leicester at the weekend.

Ozil was left out at the King Power Stadium after suffering a bruised foot while Monreal had a problem with his right calf, although both appear in contention against Valencia.

Meanwhile, Rob Holding was also spotted going through some light drills on his own as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.

The centre-back ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee back in December and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

However, Arsenal fans will be pleased to see the 23-year-old working his way back to full fitness in anticipation for the 2019/20 campaign.

The Gunners are currently on a miserable run of form, having lost their last three consecutive Premier League matches.

But Unai Emery’s side comfortably saw off Napoli in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, progressing through with a 3-0 aggregate victory.

Holding has been out since December with a serious knee injury (Image: GETTY)

Mesut Ozil missed the defeat to Leicester with a bruised foot (Image: GETTY)

Nacho Monreal has been struggling with a calf issue (Image: GETTY)

Speaking ahead of the tie with Valencia, captain Laurent Koscielny addressed the Gunners recent form and said his players need to play with more freedom.

“It’s been difficult. In the last two weeks we are good with the result in Napoli and Watford but after we lost to Palace at home and we lost our confidence,” he said.

“We need to fight and to give more for the team. We can feel this confidence coming back and to have more freedom on the pitch.

“We want to fight every game. Against Napoli it was not easy but we fight and focused. Maybe everyone is a little tired but we are in the final sprint and we want to finish strong the season.”

Laurent Koscielny has called for his team-mates to play with freedom against Valencia (Image: GETTY)

The Gunners captain was seen deep in discussion with Unai Emery (Image: GETTY)

Meanwhile, Emery revealed that Aaron Ramsey will not be fit this season and has now played his last match for Arsenal.

“We cannot use him,” said Emery.

“We have players but really he was in a good moment when he got his injury.

“For me it’s a good experience with him.. His heart is red. I want to enjoy with him. I want to do something important with him. He is not on the pitch but he is with us.”

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