Tony Leen


SO 'suddenly' Arsenal are back in the title race. In fact, the rehabilitation is never so sudden. Twenty points from the last twenty four represents a slow, methodical crawl back into the frame. What's sudden is the speed with which they can slide out of contention in the make-or-break three weeks ahead for Arsene Wenger's side. They have done so in the past, but anyone looking for signs that Arsenal are in for the duration this time had ample evidence in Sunday's blue-collar display at Bolton.

"I am sure there are others who believe as much as we do that they can win the League, but not team wants it more than us, that is for sure," said Cesc Farbregas afterwards. Certainly the 2-0 victory had a defiance about it seldom association with Wenger's sorties to Lancashire.

However, there are two large obstacles on the horizon, the first a short-term fixture schedule that involves trips to Villa Park and Stamford Bridge and visits to the Emirates from Man Utd and Liverpool.

Not a good time then to be picking up a surfeit of injuries, with Arsene Wenger now without nine first-team players.

Wenger is resigned to being without striker Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) for the rest of the season, but a number of minor problems are causing disruption to the Frenchman’s plans. The latest involve midfielders Samir Nasri (hamstring) and Aaron Ramsey (thigh), who were both injured in training prior to Sunday's game and are expected to be sidelined for around three weeks.
“Nasri’s injury is what I call a ’21-day injury’. It is a clean hamstring injury,” said Wenger.
“Ramsey’s absence will be the same but it is not a hamstring injury, it is a thigh.”
With left-back Kieran Gibbs still out with a broken foot and midfielder Jack Wilshere carrying a minor hamstring problem, Wenger is hopeful two of his injured players may be able to return for the forthcoming run of crucial league matches.
The Gunners take on Bolton again on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium, before they face Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in successive games.
“We have a little chance to get Denilson (abdomen) and Theo Walcott (rib) back for Wednesday and to get Nicklas Bendtner (recovering from hernia surgery) back in 10 days maybe,” said the Arsenal manager.
Wenger has revealed Van Persie’s rehabilitation remains on schedule and that the 26-year-old Dutchman – sidelined since November – believes he will return to action for the final month of the season.
“He has come back (to the training ground) and is doing as well as you can at that stage,” Wenger told arsenal.com.
“He is out of his boot and walks normally but he thinks he will be playing mid-April.”
Of more immediate risk is possible injuries to the hamstrung Fabregas and the over-worked Gallas and Vermaelen. Amazingly, the centre-halves have started every Premier League game this season. Losing one or either would leave Wenger with a choice of Sol Campbell or Mikael Silvestre to anchor the back four - hardly ideal for Arsenal's frantic February.