Arsenal boost for Champions League showdown with Real Madrid as TWO big-name stars return to fitness – with Thomas Partey set to fly with the team

Arsenal have been boosted ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid by the return of two stars to fitness.

The Gunners will head to the Spanish capital in a dominant position having won 3-0 in the first leg at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta‘s side will be seeking to avoid a Real Madrid fightback on Wednesday, with the 15-time European champions seeking a remarkable result to keep their title defence alive.

With Arsenal bidding to preserve their advantage, Arteta’s defensive options have been boosted ahead of the match.

Ben White was seen training at London Colney on Tuesday, with the defender having missed their weekend draw against Brentford in the Premier League.

Arteta confirmed ahead of the match that the defender had felt something’ during Friday’s training session and was therefore not risked.

It is unclear if the issue was related to the knee injury that kept him sidelined for 25 games earlier this season.

His most recent appearance came when he was introduced as a 90th-minute substitute in the 3-0 win over Madrid.

White replaced Jurrien Timber on Tuesday after the Dutch defender suffered a late injury issue.

He was joined in training by midfielder Thomas Partey, who had been a doubt for after picking up an unspecified knock against Brentford.

The midfielder, who opened the scoring for the Gunners with a second-half strike, was substituted off on 69 minutes.

The 31-year-old was reported by Arteta to have ‘felt something’ in the match, but now looks set to travel to Madrid for the second leg.

Partey and White’s availability will be a boost to the Gunners, who are without long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz.