LONDON. — Danny Welbeck has revealed he expects to make his Arsenal return in the new year. The 24-year-old has been sidelined all season following knee surgery and is yet to make a single appearance for the Gunners this term.

However, his recovery is going well and the former Manchester United man hopes to get back amongst the goals in 2016.

But he will face tough competition for places in the starting XI, especially given the fine form of makeshift striker Theo Walcott.

The 26-year-old has scored four times for the Gunners this term, and has also been in good form for England, scoring three goals.

But Welbeck is just focussed on making his return and admits it feels good to finally get out of the leg brace.

He said: “It’s difficult to put an exact date on (a return) — around the New Year.

“After I had the operation I was in a leg brace for about four weeks, which wasn’t easy. I had to do a lot of machine work, about six hours a day.

“It’s good to finally be out of the brace now and walking. It feels like I’m getting that little bit closer to getting back out on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is planning to sign up for striker masterclasses with Thierry Henry.

The Arsenal and England star admitted he needed to brush up on his finishing after scoring his first goal for club and country in 15 appearances this season.

He has managed just 13 goals for the Gunners in 127 appearances but has fared better for the Three Lions with five in 24.

Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott has revealed how lessons with the club’s legendary hitman Henry have boosted his attacking game.

Now “The Ox”, 22, is ready to do the same. “I might have to have a few words with Thierry,” he said. “I think there’s no better man to advice you on how to get a goal here or there.

“It definitely something I think of. It’s something as an attacking player you have to be aware of.

“You can’t force it too much because you start to do the wrong things on the pitch if you try to force shots that are not on. It is definitely something I think about and work on.

“I watch games back and see positions, its more so for me getting in the right positions to score the easy goals as they say.

“There’s no easy goals but the tap-ins at the back post and stuff like that. That’s something I’m more conscious of.

“It’s definitely something I’m aware of so if I am able to get in the scoresheet is something I’m happy about it. It is something I obviously want to contribute more.”

And Olivier Giroud says he needs ‘to harden mentally’ after losing Arsenal place.

The Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud says it is a new experience for him to be the second choice behind Walcott and believes his manager Arsène Wenger still has faith in his abilities after he scored both goals for France in their 2-1 win over Denmark on Sunday.

Things have changed drastically since last season at Arsenal when Wenger preferred Giroud in the centre as a target man and Walcott as a right-wing. Walcott has always insisted his best role is in the centre and his deployment there has worked so far this season.

The England international has already scored seven goals in 13 appearances for club and country this season, and has 12 goals in his last 14 Premier League starts. In contrast, Giroud has scored three goals in 11 appearances for Arsenal so far, drawing criticism for his inconsistency.

“At Arsenal, I am in competition with Theo for the striker position. But he is doing well at the moment, so there is no reason to change,” Giroud said.

“Whether it was at Tours, Montpellier or Arsenal, I have never experienced a situation like this, I have often played from the start. I need to take positives and to harden myself mentally. It is something new for me.

“I was in (Walcott’s) place in previous seasons at Arsenal. I imagine what he must have been thinking. But I feel that the coach believes in me,” the 29-year-old French forward added. — The Daily Express.

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