Thursday 27 August 2015 12:46, UK
Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck's recovery from a knee injury is progressing well and the Arsenal striker should be back in action after the international break.
The 24-year-old England international has yet to feature for the Gunners this season after his pre-season campaign was disrupted by the same injury that kept him on the sidelines at the end of last term.
Welbeck has not played since the goalless draw with Chelsea on April 26 and missed the final six games of last season due to his knee problem.
But Wenger said at his press conference on Thursday: "Welbeck is progressing well and should be back after the international break."
However, Wenger also revealed that Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are doubtful for Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle at St James' Park.
The central defensive duo missed Arsenal's goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening and Mertesacker is still struggling with a chest infection, while Koscielny has a back injury.
Wenger said: "Mertesacker is still sick and we will know more about Koscielny today. He might have a test on his back and I will certainly know more tomorrow morning. The less likely to be fit is Mertesacker.
"I would like them to be available but that's part of the season, and you can't complain about that."
We have a little deficit comparing the chances we created and our finishing qualities at the moment but that will come back.
Calum Chambers and Gabriel formed a makeshift partnership for Arsenal against Liverpool, but both players endured a testing opening period and the Gunners were fortunate to head into the interval with the score still level.
"It was a game of two halves for us defensively," Wenger added. "In the first half we gave the chances away to Liverpool to score and in both halves we created chances.
"We could not finish so we have a little deficit comparing the chances we created and our finishing qualities at the moment but that will come back. Defensively we suffered in the first half but in the second half we didn't give any chances away."
