Theo Walcott & Denilson to return for Arsenal against Bolton Wanderers

Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2010 by Goal.com

Youngsters back in frame for Trotters visit to north London.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that England winger Theo Walcott and Brazilian midfielder Denilson are fit enough to be in the squad which faces Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates this week.

Fran Merida is out after scoring against the Trotters at the Reebok on Sunday though a game in which he took a knock to the ankle.

Thanks to the recent cold snap and fixture re-arrangement, Bolton and Arsenal face each other twice in one week in the Premier League.

Wenger also reiterated that Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri would be out for three weeks, as he'd intimated earlier today.

“Denilson and Walcott are available for Wednesday night,” the Frenchman told the Gunners' official website.

“It is a big boost of course because they were out for a while and it gives us some fresh players. Walcott has been unlucky with some small niggling injuries and so it is good to have him back.

“Nicklas Bendtner should be available for the Villa game on January 27 too. He should be back from next week onwards – Monday or Tuesday. Maybe he will not be completely ready for Stoke but, after that, he should be able to be in the squad.

“Unfortunately we have lost Fran Merida who got kicked straight away when he came on [at Bolton] and his ankle was very bad today. But that is all we should lose from Sunday.

“However Nasri and Ramsey will be 21 days each. We could have a good surprise with both because they are usually quick recovering players but common sense tells us 21 days.”