Arsenal Blow As Key Man Struggling To Be Fit To Face Liverpool

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of Danny Welbeck as the forward is struggling to be passed fit to face Liverpool on Saturday due to a knee injury, according to the Telegraph.

Welbeck starred for England on Friday night as he grabbed a goal and an assist during a 3-0 victory over Lithuania in their European Championship qualifier.

However, the 23-year-old was forced off 10 minutes from the end after tweaking his knee and he was immediately ruled out of tonight’s friendly against Italy in Turin.

England boss Roy Hodgson hinted after the game on Friday that the injury wasn’t too serious but the Telegraph claim today that Welbeck is now struggling to be passed fit for Arsenal’s clash against Liverpool this weekend.

The former Man Utd attacker has been back in North London undergoing treatment and will no doubt be given until the final hours to prove his fitness, but as it stands it seems Welbeck is a major doubt as the Gunners prepare to entertain fellow top-four hopefuls Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime.

The news will come as a major blow to Arsene Wenger as Welbeck has been an important player since returning from a thigh injury late last month and has been keeping Theo Walcott out of the starting eleven in recent weeks.

However, if Welbeck does miss the Liverpool match then it will open the door for Walcott to stake his claim for a first team place again – although the 26-year-old will first have to come through tonight’s England match unscathed as he’s expected to start against Italy in Turin.