Arsenal Handed Major Injury Boost as Nicklas Bendtner Set for Early Return - Report

Arsenal have been reportedly handed a major injury boost as the Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner is set for an early return, according to the Metro.

The 25-year-old picked up an ankle injury during the north London side's 2-0 victory over Cardiff City on New Year. The Dane was believed to be out of action for four to six weeks after his injury during the game against the Welsh club.

However, the report claims Bendtner is set for an earlier return than expected as he is making good progress on his road to recovery. The striker has already recovered quickly and is just days away from returning to full training session.

The Gunners are without the services of their first choice strikers as both the Danish international and Olivier Giroud picked up injuries during the festive period.

In addition to this, Arsenal star Theo Walcott is ruled out for the rest of the season after the England international was stretchered off from the field during their 2-0 FA Cup third round victory over their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves has urged Arsene Wenger to sign Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov in January to strengthen the Gunners' strike force. In addition to this, Groves claims Walcott's injury will force the Frenchman to enter into the market in search of an attacker.

However, Bendtner's quick recovery will be a major boost for Wenger as he looks to end Arsenal's close to a decade long trophy drought this season. The Gunners manager had earlier admitted that he could be forced to bring in new faces to the Emirates, after injuries to attacking players.

"For Bendtner, it will be for one month, we expected it could have been more, but we had good news," Wenger explained.

"With Theo, he has a knee problem,' he went on, 'We don't know if it is a stretched ligament or just a kick, he got two kicks onto his knee. Of course, if we lose Theo for a longer period, it is a problem," he added.

Should Bendtner return to first team action much sooner than expected, it could then see Wenger drop his plans of signing a striker in January and deploy the Dane to lead Arsenal's strike force till Giroud's return to action.