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Arsenal's Welbeck ahead of schedule after knee surgery

Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

The burden on Arsenal's oft-overcrowded treatment room has been alleviated with the news that Danny Welbeck could be fit by Christmas - some four months ahead of schedule.

The speedy forward required a knee cartilage operation after falling to the injury in 2015-16's penultimate game of the season at Manchester City in May, but Arsene Wenger revealed Welbeck is now likely to be back for the festive period.

"He has an inflammation of his knee and they had to go in again to see if it is healing well," said Wenger. "If the healing was not good, he would have been out until April. The news was excellent and he will be back around Christmas. That was the only good news of last week."

The caveat in Wenger's address of course referred to the 4-3 home loss to Liverpool on Sunday, and also the injury problems he has elsewhere in his squad that were recently worsened by respective hamstring and thigh injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi. The pair is expected to return to fitness during the international break at the start of September.

The summer transfer window swings shut in two weeks and, if the unrest at the Emirates Stadium is anything to go by, the club's fans want additions to Wenger's depleted squad. Despite battling back from 4-1 down to within one goal in the clash, the Gunners' efforts were met with a cacophony of boos.

"I am not surprised by anything," Wenger shared. "I can understand everything in human reactions. They are disappointed, I am disappointed.

"People are more demanding, more intelligent, better informed, and have strong opinions. If you have responsibility, you have to be stronger, and still do what you feel is right."

Arsenal travels to reigning champion Leicester City this Saturday, and may call upon Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil, and Olivier Giroud after they were rested due to their Euro 2016 commitments.

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