Arsene Wenger is hoping Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck will be fit in time for the trip to face Watford in October, after the English international picked up an injury on the weekend.

Welbeck injured his groin in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea last Sunday and is expected to be out for several weeks. Speaking his pre-West Brom press conference, Wenger has identified the trip to Watford on October 14th as the English international’s potential return date.

It was late in the second-half against Chelsea that Welbeck tweaked his groin while fighting for the ball with David Luiz. At the time, Wenger described it as a “good” groin injury, which is Wenger-speak for ‘will be out for a long time.

Welbeck is now expected to miss the games against West Brom, BATE Borisov and Brighton next week, as well as England’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania.

The injury is a blow to the 26-year-old, who was making a good claim to be a regular starter for Arsenal in the absence of Alexis Sanchez, in my opinion. He scored three goals before the Chelsea game and was looking fit and strong.

By the time he returns, I believe Alexis should be a first-team regular again, meaning Welbeck will have to be content with a bench role.