Arsenal team news: Hector Bellerin set to return NEXT WEEK after recovering quicker than expected from ankle injury

HECTOR Bellerin is set to return as early as next week from his injury hell to help Arsenal in their busy Christmas fixture pile-up.

The Spanish star, 21, has been sidelined since earlier this month after being crocked against rivals Tottenham in the North London derby.

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He is expected to miss tonight's EFL Cup match against Southampton, Saturday's Premier League clash at West Ham, and Arsenal's Champions League tie with Basel next Tuesday.

But it is hoped he will return for the Gunners home match against Stoke on 10 December.

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Arsene Wenger is desperate for the right-back to return with Mathieu Debuchy going off injured just ten minutes into his return against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Carl Jenkinson has also struggled in his place, and had a tough time at Old Trafford against Manchester United last weekend.

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Bellerin said: "It’s going better than expected because it’s a pretty hard injury but, at the moment, it’s recovering really well.

"I hope to be running by the end of this week or the beginning of next week and then we’ll just take it from there."