Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Lauren boost for Gunners

18 Dec 2006 - 12:14:06

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Arsenal look set to be handed an early Christmas present with the return to action of forgotten man Lauren.

The Cameroon defender has been out of action for 11 months after suffering a serious knee ligament injury, but made a successful comeback in a friendly against Vietnamese side Hoang Anh Gia Lai at Arsenal's training ground.

The 29-year-old played 55 minutes without suffering any ill-effects and could be back in contention to challenge Emmanuel Eboue for the right-back berth during the festive period.

Only last month Lauren revealed he had feared for his future during his extended period on the sidelines.

"There were some stages when I said to myself 'I will not come back from this'," he revealed.

"I seriously thought I wouldn't play again and I said that to some people. Mentally, I was very weak and very low.

"I would train for two days and I needed four days to recover."

Following his successful comeback, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could be tempted to hand Lauren a place in the side for Tuesday's Carling Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool.