Serge Gnabry edges closer to Arsenal return after a year out of action

Serge Gnabry has confirmed he is ready to make his Arsenal comeback after a frustrating year of injuries, declaring himself 'fit as a fiddle'. Gnabry, 19, has been Arsenal's forgotten man this season having suffered a string of knee problems that have prevented him from making a first team appearance since March 2014.

The Germany Under-19 international had been on the cusp of making a return on a couple of occasions this term but is now close to full fitness again. He wrote on Instagram: "After not having trained for a few days as a measure of precaution I am finally back with team and fit as a fiddle."

Gnabry broke into the Gunners first team last season with standout performances against Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup and looked set to provide real cover for Theo Walcott after the England international's season came to an end due to cruciate knee ligament injury. But the winger was also soon sidelined, suffering the initial knee problem in March 2014 which ended his season.

After appearing for the club's Under-21 side in October 2014, Gnabry was tipped to make his return before the end of the year, but another setback suffered in training further delayed his return date. With Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott ahead of him in the pecking order, Gnabry may have to wait for next season before he has his next chance.

Speaking in February 2015 after appearing for Terry Burton's reserve side, the winger anticipated the difficulty of forcing his way back into contention but relished the task at hand.

"It's very exciting. We've got a big squad - I'm a young player and obviously there are players like Alexis, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo. We've got a massive squad up front. I love to compete with those people and to learn from them, so I'm really happy to be involved in the team," he told Arsenal's official website.

Gnabry was not in the Arsenal squad that flew out to Monaco on Monday (16 March).