Football
Miguel Delaney 10y

Arsene Wenger: Theo Walcott set to return to Arsenal training next week

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Theo Walcott is set to return to training next week, in what was finally good news for Arsenal amid yet another injury crisis. 

Walcott, 25, has been out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury since January, and had been scheduled to return towards the end of August.

Speaking on the eve of his 18th anniversary at the club, Wenger also stated that Jack Wilshere is in the squad for Wednesday's game against Galatasaray, despite fears he may miss out.

"Walcott is joining in full training next week," Wenger said. "It's very good news. Serge Gnabry as well."

"It's a big thing for us. Let's not forget that Theo got injured on Jan. 1 and we are now in October.

"That's 10 months and we had to wait for a long time. Hopefully now we will have no more setbacks.

"Jack Wilshere is in the squad for tomorrow. Will I start him? I don't know yet, but he's in the squad."

Abou Diaby misses out, however, as Aaron Ramsey is now also expected to miss a month with a hamstring complaint.

 "I left Abou Diaby out as well because he's not completely there yet. We lost Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey in our last game and it could have been three because Wilshere was a doubt for a long time but he recovered quite well."

Wenger meanwhile stressed the need to get a win against Galatasaray at home, particularly after losing the opening group match away to Borussia Dortmund.

"The group stage is a minimum of 10 points so the home games are vital. We had a disappointing result in Dortmund and at the moment I feel that the potential is there for us.

"We don't lose a lot but we want to find the winning edge together and we have that opportunity tomorrow."

The side's absences may mean that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil finally start in the same team.

"Maybe now we will do it, we will see. We have plenty of options. I believe we have a strong squad. We of course want to use that during the season," Wenger added.

"We have more options offensively, but that has to be translated on board and we have to score the goals we could score looking at the possession we have had so far."

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