Arsenal star Santi Cazorla all smiles as he trains ahead of a potential Premier League return against Norwich

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Arsenal's midfield dynamo Santi Cazorla looked relaxed in training ahead of a potential Barclays Premier League return against Norwich on Saturday.

The Spaniard's last game for the Gunners was back in November 2015, also against the Canaries. He has been absent since with a series of knee and achilles problems.

Cazorla played through the pain that day at Carrow Road, but looked trouble free in training ahead of a potential return against Alex Neil's side. 

Arsenal star Santi Cazorla was in good spirits as he trained ahead of his first-team return against Norwich

The Spanish midfielder has been out injured since the reverse fixture at Carrow Road last November

Boss Arsene Wenger was in a more serious mood, explaining the games finer points to Mohamed Elneny

Arsene Wenger will be cautious handling the comebacks of Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as the pair get over long-term injuries.

'One of the two could be involved,' said the Arsenal manager about his returnees.

'[Santi] Cazorla has practiced for two weeks with the team, Alex [Oxlade-Chamberlain] for one week, so one of the two could be [involved]. 

In his training gear, the Emirates chief prepared his side as they look to ensure retention of top-four status

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to hide a smirk as he prepared for a possible return to action at the weekend

Mesut Ozil was in the mood for a laugh, playing up for the camera as the squad geared up for the Canaries

'Santi has been out since November and Alex since Barcelona [in February]. 

'It is good. Ideally the players injuries are accidental and it is good at least they have hope to go to the Euros.'

Both were prominent in the Gunners' final preparations for the visit of Norwich in the tea-time kick-off on Saturday.

Chilean forward Alexi Sanchez saw the funny side of things in what appeared to be a light-hearted session

Per Mertesacker got in on the joke too as the Gunners were drilled for duty in the Saturday tea-time kick-off

Tomas Rosicky also trained with the first team but he is thought to be behind Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlain in terms of planning for his comeback.

It appeared to be a laid-back session with the players putting their precarious hold on a top-four spot to the back of their minds as they look to down the Canaries.

Star names Mesut Ozil and Alexi Sanchez were snapped having a chuckle as Wenger put them through their paces.

Even Oxlade-Chamberlain, potentially preparing to play for the first time since February, saw the funny side things at Arsenal's London Colney base.

Wenger was in a more serious mood. After fine-tuning his side for relegation-threatened Norwich, he admitted in his press conference these were the kind of home games that cost his side the title.

In a statement that will surely rile the sections of the Emirates unhappy with how Wenger is leading the team, the Arsenal boss also added it was the responsibility of the fans to create a good atmosphere at home.

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is back in training but still short of practice and not slated to return this weekend

‘We lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played at home in a very difficult climate,' said Wenger.

'We have to realise that, away from home, we are championship winners. At home, against the smaller teams, we lost the league. This club does have special values though and one I've experienced over the years is to stick together and support the team.

'There's no success without that.' 

Mathieu Flamini battles with Elneny as the Arsenal players were put through his paces in the Friday session

With Norwich on the horizon, the Arsenal squad stretch out during the training session at London Colney