Arsenal team news: Laurent Koscielny in contention to face Watford but Jack Wilshere remains sidelined with injury

Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are continuing their long roads back to recovery but Gunners could welcome back three players from injury this weekend against Watford

Jack Wilshere will not be available for Arsenal for at least another month (Getty Images)

Arsenal could welcome back three player from injury for this weekend’s trip to Watford, but Jack Wilshere remains at least a month away from the broken leg that has kept him out of action since pre-season.

Wilshere suffered a fractured fibula in pre-season that caused him to miss the Community Shield victory over Chelsea and all of the Gunners’ season so far. Having appeared to be on the path back to full fitness in September, news came that Wilshere had suffered a major setback and would require surgery on the leg fracture ruling him out for an additional three months.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Thursday that Wilshere is still a month away from a return, and while he was described to be “progressing well”, the England midfielder will not be taking to the field any time soon.

The same applies to absent striker Danny Welbeck. The former Manchester United forward has not played for the Gunners since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea in April this year, and Wenger admitted that the 24-year-old will not return until next year.

“Danny Welbeck at the earliest will be back [at the] beginning of January,” Wenger said. "They [Wilshere and Welbeck] are progressing well."

The good news for Arsenal is that short-term absentees Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini could all be fit to face Watford on Saturday evening.

Koscielny faces a late fitness test ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road after missing the 3-0 victory over Manchester United with a hamstring strain, but Wenger admitted he could return in time for this weekend’s resumption of the Premier League.

Both Arteta and Flamini haven’t played since the 5-2 win over Leicester three weeks ago but look set to return to the matchday squad.

Along with Wilshere and Welbeck, the only long-term injury worry is Tomas Rosicky. The Czech Republic midfielder had similar surgery to Welbeck, and is not expected to play again in 2015.