Arsene Wenger talks up forward options as injury crises ease

Arsenal are set to welcome Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck back for their game against Stoke City next weekend as Arsene Wenger looks to start the new year on a high.

Welbeck was out with a thigh injury against Southampton, while Ozil was sidelined for over three months with a knee injury he picked up against Chelsea in October. Giroud has served his three game suspension and will be available for selection against Stoke.

The Gunners also have Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey in contention for Stoke as Wenger moves closer to finally being able to field his best XI in the Premier League, which has been marred by a series of injuries to key players.

Their problems were apparent in the midfield against the Saints, where they had to field Francis Coquelin as a holding midfielder alongside Calum Chambers, the 19-year-old who transferred to the Emirates from St Mary's last summer.

Theo Walcott returned to first team action against Hull City in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday where he completed 75 minutes after being out for over a year since being stretchered off against Tottenham last season. However, Wenger insists that the England international is still some way off regaining full fitness and his true ability will only be portrayed with time.

"We have many options when you think of the players who still have not played tonight. We have many solutions up front," Wenger told the official Arsenal website.

"You cannot expect much [from Walcott yet] but fitness-wise he was good. He had good chances, made some good runs. He has to get used to contact again and that will take a little bit of time. Overall it was a positive first game.

"It's a very important period now. We've had many injuries until now and hopefully everybody will be back," he added.

Wenger also allayed fears over Joel Campbell, who limped off after the game and insisted that the Costa Rican was suffering from cramps.

"It's not an injury, it's cramp. He has given a lot and he lacks competition as well. He's a very generous player and he did fight very hard. He's a bit short physically but I don't think he's injured," he concluded.