Apart from the slight groin strain picked up in training by Theo Walcott and the slight knock received by Danny Welbeck during the Scotland v England friendly, it has been a pretty good international break for the Arsenal players, who should all have arrived back in north London in a positive frame of mind.
But perhaps more important than that has been the chance for Arsene Wenger and his coaching staff to work with the players not on international duty. Because the Gunners still cannot call on the first choice French defenders Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy.
However, because of Per Mertesacker retiring from the Germany national side after the World Cup and with Nacho Monreal, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini not being called up, Wenger and Steve Bould will have been able to get some serious defensive training done with these four players and with Hector Bellerin at right back and that could pay dividends against Man United in the Premier League clash at the Emirates stadium.
Hopefully the last two weeks will have allowed Monreal and the BFG to forge more of an understanding and there are few centre backs that read the game better than the German. And with our two main deep lying midfielders available to train with them, there is less chance of the Arsenal defensive unit looking like a bunch of strangers.
Add to that the fact that Calum Chambers knows United’s left back and his game very well from their time at Southampton, as well as the pace and form of Gibbs down the left and the Gunners should be able to put on a much more solid showing against Louis van Gaal’s team. But will it be enough for Arsenal to claim all three points?