Mixed injury news ahead of Bolton game

Arsène Wenger has received some mixed injury news as he prepares his team to face Bolton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

On the plus side, Samir Nasri is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery.

The Frenchman sustained a meniscal injury against Liverpool on the opening day of the season and was expected to be sidelined for a month. But Nasri will return to full training in the next few days.

However, Robin van Persie will have to wait a little longer before he is back in the first-team frame.

The Dutchman injured his ankle against Blackburn Rovers on August 28 and will be sidelined for longer than first anticipated. Van Persie is likely to be out of action until mid-October.

Look out for a full injury update from Arsène Wenger on Arsenal.com this Thursday.

Pre-season spotlight on Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has once again resisted the urge to spend big in the transfer market, instead putting his trust in the club's youth.

The Frenchman will hope that with another year's experience, the likes of Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson and Abou Diaby can turn all their potential into consistent performances. Meanwhile, much is expected of Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Frimpong, who should get matches under their belts this season.


Wenger will also be praying that Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie can stay injury free after they missed much of last season with leg and ankle injuries respectively. The pair reached the World Cup final, so will have had little time to rest. Fabregas' confirmation that he will be staying at the club despite bids from Barcelona is a boost to all at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger has added Marouane Chamakh to his squad after signing the striker on a Bosman free transfer from Bordeaux. He has impressed in pre-season, as has the other major addition Laurent Koscielny, from Lorient. The defender looks like forming a centre-back pairing with Thomas Vermaelen, although the fit-again Johan Djourou will also hope for playing time.

Arsenal have sold Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva to Shakhtar Donetsk after he failed to rediscover his best form following a horrific broken leg sustained in 2008. Fran Merida has departed to Atletico Madrid on a free transfer, while Philippe Senderos' contract expired and he has joined Fulham.

French youngster Francis Coquelin has joined Lorient on loan, and young striker Luke Freeman has moved to Yeovil, also on a temporary basis. Centre-back Luke Ayling has left the club for Yeovil on a free transfer.

Arsenal defeated Barnet 4-0 in their traditional opening pre-season friendly, while SK Sturm Graz and SC Neusiedl 1919 were dispatched 3-0 and 4-0 respectively on the club's tour of Austria.

The Gunners won the Emirates Cup after a 1-1 draw with AC Milan and a 3-2 win over Celtic. Their last pre-season friendly saw them spectacularly defeat Legia Warsaw 6-5 in Poland.