Arsenal injury news: Tomas Rosicky out for a month as Danny Welbeck nears return despite Southampton absence

The latest Arsenal injury news ahead of the Premier League clash with Southampton

Danny Welbeck is nearing a return from injury for Arsenal (Getty Images)

Tomas Rosicky has been ruled out of action for Arsenal until the middle of March after picking up a thigh strain on his return to football, having missed the first half of the season with a serious knee injury.

Rosicky made his return when he came off the substitutes’ bench during Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round victory over Burnley, but suffered a thigh strain within three minutes of entering the action. Despite playing on to complete the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that the midfielder will miss at least a month.

The news is a blow to Wenger, who remains short on fit midfielders, as the Czech Republic international joins two other first-team regulars in Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla on the sidelined.

The only other injury concern for Arsenal is Danny Welbeck, and while the England international has returned to training following a lengthy absence that stems from a knee injury he suffered in April last year, this week’s Premier League clash with Southampton is too early for the 25-year-old to make his return.

Welbeck could however make his return in an under-21s match later this week.

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Arsenal take on Southampton on Tuesday night looking to gain revenge for the 4-0 hammering they received on their trip to St Mary’s on Boxing Day.