Arsenal: Arsene Wenger plays down Danny Welbeck injury fears after the striker missed Hull City clash

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down striker Danny Welbeck's injury fears after revealing that it was just a matter of days before he returns to first team action, but maintained that he could miss next Monday's game against Swansea City.

The Gunners all but confirmed their place in the top four for this season with a convincing 3-1 win over Hull City on 4 May, and are now in a battle with Manchester City to finish in the runners-up spot behind new Premier League champions Chelsea.

Ahead of the game, the French manager had revealed that the former Manchester United striker had not travelled with the squad to the KC Stadium due to an inflamed knee, and also suggested that the striker could be out for Arsenal's clash against the south Wales club on 11 May.

"There's an inflammation in his knee - it doesn't look very bad but he isn't available for selection," Wenger said ahead of Arsenal's win over Hull City, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"Yes, I think so. I think maybe next Monday against Swansea, if not the game after (against United)," the Gunners boss added.

The report claims that the striker hadn't taken part in a full training session the entire week ahead of the north London club's clash against the Tigers, but fears that he could be out for the rest of the season were dispelled following the game, when the manager admitted that it was just a matter of days before Welbeck returns to training again.

"It's a question of days, it's an inflamed knee," the 65-year-old manager confirmed, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.

Wenger will be hoping to have all his players fit for the final few weeks of the season, especially with the FA Cup final against Aston Villa coming up just a week after the end of the Premier League season.