Arsenal have been handed a fitness boost with defender Cedric on the brink of a return to action.

The full back has fully recovered from the knock he picked up last month and is set to return to full training.

His recovery comes at a good time for Mikel Arteta, whose side face eight matches before the end of October, starting with a Europa League clash against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

The plan is for Cedric to return to the squad for that match, with the 31-year-old keen to build up minutes and fight for a spot in Arteta’s first team.

Ben White has impressed since shifting to right back this season, while Arteta also has Takehiro Tomiyasu as an option, though the Japan international has had fitness problems of his own.

Cedric made 21 appearances in last season’s Premier League, scoring once, and the defender is confident of returning to his best.