by Lee Hurley

When Danny Welbeck picked up a knee injury he was only expected to miss a few weeks.

It was hoped that he would be back in time for the league game at Old Trafford but the swelling that he suffered kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season ensuring that he missed the chance to play in the FA Cup final.

Last playing for Arsenal on 26th April, he missed the last six games of the season and it is somewhat concerning that he ‘hopes‘ to be fit to face Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley on 2nd August.

“The injury happened when I was just getting into gear with a run of games, then you are trying to work your way back to fitness and it is difficult,” Welbz said.

“It was worse than we first thought it was but it is just a natural healing period and usually I heal faster than others.

“I can’t really do much at the moment, with the bone bruising, but I am still going into see the physio for a couple of times a week and then will hopefully get a bit of time away.”

Arsenal’s pre-season gets underway with a game against a Singapore XI in the Barclays Asia Trophy on 15th July.

At this point it looks unlikely that Welbeck will be included in the squad that travels, but you never know.