Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Mikel Arteta has returned to full training on Friday.

The Spaniard, who has been out with a calf problem for the past four months, is expected to return to the first side within three months.

Speaking to the press at his pre-West Ham press conference, the manager also confirmed that the club captain may be offered a new deal which tallies with rumours that were around on Thursday.

Earlier in the season his agent stated that the player had already been offered (and agreed) a one-year extension to his current contract although rumours in the press had linked him with a move away this summer, something we here at Cannon Towers didn’t think was very likely, especially given his position as club captain and the fact he was only promoted to that position at the start of the season.

Although Wenger has said the player will ‘maybe‘ be offered a new deal, if he’s talking about it to the press you can be fairly certain that the club will be offering him one.