Theo Walcott has been forced to watch Arsenal's stuttering progress through this season from the Emirates stands, after he damaged his shoulder whilst on England duty in November.
However, the young winger claims the Arsenal fans should be readying themselves to welcome him back, as the injury has nearly healed, and he is looking at returning to action for the Champions League fixtures on February 24 and March 11, when Arsenal take on Roma in the last 16 of the competition.
"I am nearly there, and hopefully [will be back] by the end of this month," the former Southampton player told The Daily Telegraph.
"I am doing a lot of rehab work now with the shoulder, landing on it, and also in the gym with a lot of weights to build the muscle strength back.
"I just feel it will be when I am ready. Obviously I do not want to do it again, so I have got to be 100 per cent fit."
During his absence, the north Londonders of course signed Russian superstar Andrey Arshavin, and Walcott is looking forward to starring alongside the new boy, even if he has had to rely on the internet to see the former Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker in action.
"Hopefully when I am back fit again, I can play a lot of football with him," Walcott continued.
"When he gets his [match] fitness back up, he will be a top player for us, definitely.
"I have seen him on YouTube a lot, watching how he plays, the balls he can spot. He can do unbelievable passes.
"He is going to be a good addition to the squad."
Arsenal were also boosted by the news today that the effects felt by left-back Gael Clichy following his head injury in Sunday's north London derby have cleared sufficiently to allow him to return to training by Thursday this week, and he should be fit to face Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Monday evening.
Theo Walcott has been forced to watch Arsenal's stuttering progress through this season from the Emirates stands, after he damaged his shoulder whilst on England duty in November.
However, the young winger claims the Arsenal fans should be readying themselves to welcome him back, as the injury has nearly healed, and he is looking at returning to action for the Champions League fixtures on February 24 and March 11, when Arsenal take on Roma in the last 16 of the competition.
"I am nearly there, and hopefully [will be back] by the end of this month," the former Southampton player told The Daily Telegraph.
"I am doing a lot of rehab work now with the shoulder, landing on it, and also in the gym with a lot of weights to build the muscle strength back.
"I just feel it will be when I am ready. Obviously I do not want to do it again, so I have got to be 100 per cent fit."
During his absence, the north Londonders of course signed Russian superstar Andrey Arshavin, and Walcott is looking forward to starring alongside the new boy, even if he has had to rely on the internet to see the former Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker in action.
"Hopefully when I am back fit again, I can play a lot of football with him," Walcott continued.
"When he gets his [match] fitness back up, he will be a top player for us, definitely.
"I have seen him on YouTube a lot, watching how he plays, the balls he can spot. He can do unbelievable passes.
"He is going to be a good addition to the squad."
Arsenal were also boosted by the news today that the effects felt by left-back Gael Clichy following his head injury in Sunday's north London derby have cleared sufficiently to allow him to return to training by Thursday this week, and he should be fit to face Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Monday evening.