Welbeck set for Arsenal return after long injury lay-off

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will return to first-team training next week after seven months out with a knee injury.Welbeck damaged cartilage in his right knee in May’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City and is yet to make an appearance this season.

Arsenal return to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow with both sides hoping to hang onto the coattails of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

And Wenger used his pre-match press conference to reveal that Welbeck had completed his rehabilitation, while also confirming that Aaron Ramsey is close to a comeback from a hamstring injury.

“We should have approximately the same squad who went to Everton,” Wenger said.

“Nobody is back. Aaron Ramsey’s not back, he’s the closest to come back, so we have some knocks and bruises but they should all be available again.

“Next week, I believe he [Ramsey] should be back in the squad and in normal training.“Danny Welbeck is one week away from completing normal training. To be back in the squad; that will take some time because he hasn’t played for a long, long time.”

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal can provide Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil with sufficient finances as contract talks with the pair go on.

Both Sanchez and Ozil’s current deals expire at the end of next season, with the Chilean linked with big-money moves to Manchester City and the Chinese Super League.

Wenger insists he is in no rush to push through talks with either player, but is adamant Arsenal can provide them with everything they would want to stay and has no concerns about the pair dropping form as their futures become less certain.He said: “I feel today that we can give financial satisfaction and support ambition and values that make them happy.“Before the financial gap was too big to keep our players and we could not compete, we had to sell players.

“These players have 18 months [left on their] contract and I don’t see why there’s urgency to have questions.“Maybe you lack a bit of creativity in newspapers and always come up with same subject but I don’t know why this comes up in every press conference.”
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