Arsenal injury news: Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky back in training, confirms Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that both Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky are back in full training and closing on a first-team return, along with influential goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Arsenal’s run of poor form coincided with a number of injuries to key players, although Wilshere has proven to be a long-term headache for Wenger having not played a minute of football this season after suffering a broken leg in pre-season.

The Gunners have slipped 11 points behind leaders Leicester City as well as crashing out of the FA Cup and Champions League, and although they have a game in hand over the Foxes, the odds are stacked against them to end the season with the Premier League trophy in their hands.

If the Gunners are to get back into title contention, they will need their key players back and at peak fitness for the season run-in, and Wenger revealed that a number of first team players are on the verge of a return in the coming weeks.

“Wilshere and Rosicky are back in full training,” Wenger told Arsenal.com. “Basically they are all progressing well.

“Cech is going back to normal training. It’s too early to say if he will be available for the weekend. He might be a bit short to be competitive.”

Wilshere will definitely miss this Saturday’s visit of Watford – who knocked them out of the FA Cup in the sixth round earlier this month – and Wenger confirmed he will not be risked in the Under-21s game against Manchester City Under-18s on Monday in the FA Youth Cup, although he is tipped to return in next Friday’s U21 Premier League clash with Newcastle.

Not yet, no, we have not decided that yet,” Wenger said of Wilshere’s return. “It is his first week back in full training and we’ll see how he responds to that, but the first signs are quite good. We’ll assess our options next week.

Elsewhere in his squad, Wenger continues to have serious concerns in midfield, with Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mathieu Flamini and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all remaining on the sidelines. Ramsey is expected to be the first one back in action along with Flamini, but Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlain remain long-term concerns.

“Ramsey will not be available for this weekend, but hopefully next weekend,” Wenger added. “Santi Cazorla is running again outside so it should be three to four weeks more training for Santi.

“Flamini is short for this weekend but could be available next weekend. Chamberlain is progressing well.”