Arsene Wenger eyes quick return for Arsenal's injured Theo Walcott

THEO WALCOTT is expected back in full training by the end of next month.

00:01, Sat, Jul 19, 2014

Theo Walcott Theo Walcott has been absent with a knee injury since January[GETTY]

The Arsenal winger is "progressing well" on his recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered in January which ruled him out of the World Cup.

And manager Arsene Wenger said: "Theo has worked very hard during the summer and we expect him to be back in full training at the end of August.

"Once he's back in full training, it [his return] can be very quick. Theo has a good basis, which is what he's working on now."

Wenger has signed Chile forward Alexis Sanchez and France right-back Mathieu Debuchy as he bids to add more silverware to the FA Cup the Gunners won last term.

More new additions are expected before they return to Wembley to play Premier League champions Manchester City on August 10, with Arsenal understood to be close to a £3million deal for Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice.

Arsenal Premier League Preview

Wenger would like to also bring in another defensive midfielder, although a deal for Real Madrid's German World Cup winner Sami Khedira now appears unlikely as Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin has emerged as another possible target.

Wenger is, however, confident that Sanchez can hit the ground running following his £30m move from Barcelona. He said: "He can play through the middle, he can play on both flanks and he has the qualities that I think are needed in England.

"He is efficient, the fact that he is good off the ball, runs at people with the ball and he's a very versatile striker. That is why he is a major signing for us and that's why we spend a lot of money on him - he has the quality to be efficient everywhere he plays."