Wenger Confirms Injured Arsenal Star Will Return In 4 Weeks + Welbeck Update

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed reports suggesting Jack Wilshere has suffered another injury setback and claims the midfielder is set to return in around 4 weeks.

Wilshere is yet to make a single appearance this season after suffering a hairline fracture to his fibula just before our Community Shield clash with Chelsea at the start of August and was ruled out until the New Year following surgery.

A proposed comeback just before Christmas was postponed after the 24-year-old suffered a setback in training and Wilshere was subsequently ruled out until the end of February.

Fans were left fearing the worst when speculation on Monday suggested the midfielder had suffered yet another setback that supposedly put Wilshere’s entire season in jeopardy as well as his participation in this summer’s European Championships.

However, Wenger has played down those reports by insisting that Wilshere is progressing well and while the boss remains cautious over rushing him back too soon, he feels Jack should be back playing with the first team in four weeks.

One player who is a lot closer to making his comeback is Danny Welbeck after he returned to full first team training last week after finally recovering from a knee injury that he sustained way back in April 2015.

Wenger has confirmed that the attacker will play for the under-21 side this week in order to build up his match fitness before he’ll be in contention for a return to the first team squad.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of our game with Southampton on Tuesday night, Wenger is quoted as saying by Arsenal.com:

on Jack Wilshere…

He is looking good. I had a short chat with Roy Hodgson about him and reassured him that he is progressing well. I’m cautious but I will say four weeks [until he is back].

on Danny Welbeck…

Danny has not played since April 2015 and will have to go through a game or two with the under-21s, where we can monitor him and leave him free to play at his level of commitment. That looks to be very soon, maybe this week.

The Wilshere news will come as a huge relief as it would have been devastating for Arsenal, and of course the player himself, had he suffered another setback that could have ruled him out for the rest of the season.

If Wenger’s estimation is correct, then we could see Wilshere back at the end of February and if he makes good progress over the coming weeks, then there is a chance he could feature in our huge Premier League game against Manchester United on the 28th.

As for Welbeck, it looks as though he’ll turn out for the under-21’s this week and if all goes smoothly, we could see him finally make his return to the first team fold in early February.