There's a welcome sight at Arsenal's London Colney training ground this week—Mikel Merino is back on the grass. The Spanish midfielder has been sidelined with an injury, but recent reports confirm he's now taking his recovery outdoors, with hopes of returning to match action before the month is out.

The news first broke on social media, with insider accounts noting that while there's no firm timeline for his comeback, Merino is pushing hard to feature before the season concludes. His commitment behind the scenes has been notable too—he's been a regular presence at team meetings, underlining his role as a key member of the club's leadership group.

Merino is currently one of only two Arsenal players on the injury list, alongside Jurrien Timber. That's a significant improvement from recent weeks, when the treatment room was far busier. Both Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard returned to the squad for Tuesday's clash with Atletico Madrid, though there's a slight question mark over Bukayo Saka after he went down before being substituted in that second-leg fixture. Saka seemed fine post-match, but it's worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's trip to West Ham United.

For Merino and Timber, the path back to full fitness is about more than just club commitments. With Spain and the Netherlands set to announce their World Cup squads soon, both players have extra motivation to prove their readiness. Getting minutes on the pitch for Arsenal is the first step, and the hope is that both will be in contention before the end of May.

As the Gunners chase a Premier League and Champions League double, having key players returning to fitness could be the edge they need in the season's final stretch. Every step on the grass counts.