Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains unsure over the extent of striker Danny Welbeck’s injury. The Englishman picked up the injury over 3 months ago, and looks set to make it 4 with Wenger admitting he is still weeks away from training. Welbeck missed Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph and all of the Gunners’ pre-season and is now likely to miss the first 5 Premier League games.

Welbeck was touted for a return to action as the new season came about, with initial diagnosis’ showing it was just a bone bruise that he had suffered. However Wenger is not sure of the extent of the injury, and is taking the advice of his medical team, who are yet to clear the forward for full training.

“It is much slower than expected. It was bone bruising at the start and you think it will be quite quick. He is an important player for us and the fact he is not available is a bit of concern.” said Wenger in the Daily Mail.

“He is not close because he has not started full training. He is in the gym. He will be at least three weeks from today.”

“I don’t think it needs an operation. There is nothing wrong at all. They have done all kinds of scans that are very sophisticated and some of them I don’t understand at all. But they tell me, no.”

[Quotes via ibtimes]

Arsene Wenger also spoke about Alexis Sanchez, who looks set to start the game against Palace on Suday.

“He [Alexis] works extremely hard in every single training session to show that he is ready,” the Frenchman said. “It is what everybody should do. You wonder if he has created a beach at home and runs along the living room. He is a hyperactive guy. He needs that to be happy.”

“He came back reasonably fit. He practised for two weeks before he came back. He did not start from zero.”

[Quotes from the Guardian]