Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is slated to make a comeback next week from a 7-months-old ligament injury he sustained at the Etihad Stadium in May this year.
The former Manchester United man was billed to fully heal next month but seems to have had a sped up healing process.
As his return buffers Arsene Wenger’s options going forward, the coach says there is need for the 26-year-old to take all the time he needs, stressing that Danny has a lot of catching up to do as regards match fitness.
“Danny Welbeck is one week away from completing normal training. To be back in the squad, that will take some time because he wasn’t played for a long long time.”
As the England international resumes training next week, it won’t be of any harm to ask Santa Claus for a favour as regards injuries. Prior to this latest setback, he had actually been on to a forced vacation to the treatment table for 10 months before making a return to football in February this year.
Wenger also revealed he won’t be making any changes in the starting line-up that lost at Everton’s Goodison Park on Tuesday for the game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City sit fourth on 33 points – one behind Arsenal – and will hope to beat The Gunners to ensure they can still keep tabs with the number one spot while Wenger’s men will be hoping to inflict City a second successive home defeat to avoid Chelsea from extending the gap at the top to as high as 9 points should The Blues beat Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Wenger also evaded questions asked about Alexis Sanchez’s contract as it is believed the Chilean is holding out for a £250,000 per-week, a figure that appears at odd with the wage structure at Emirates. In his reply, he said:
“You waste your time because these players have 18 months on their contract and I don’t see why there is any urgency.”
