Wenger sees Welbeck emerging from torrid struggles

Wenger admires Welbeck's versatility, calling him a "useful" player to have in the squad. For me he is a useful player, first of all because of his quality.

Welbeck has suffered an injury nightmare over recent seasons having been struck down by two serious knee injuries - one to each leg - in 2015 and 2016.

"I want to keep him because I believe he has gone through a torrid time".

"He's doing well. I think he will be ahead of his planned recovery", Wenger told his pre-match media conference ahead of the League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday. 'It gives you an arrogance but when you lose that belief in your body, your arrogance is hit and you are lost.

The Frenchman was injured during Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the North London derby 10 days ago, when he missed a couple of huge opportunities to get the Gunners back into the game.

'There was a time when I remember him playing for England in Switzerland and he looked marvellous. He was already here [then] and he is a player we all want and would like to come back.

The England worldwide is back at full fitness after spending the majority of the last eighteen months in and out of the treatment room and the Gunners manager is keen for him to extend his stay at the club beyond next summer, when his current deal expires. I see signs of him now in training where he is like that period.

Lacazette, who signed for the Gunners from Lyon in the summer for £52 million had "arthroscopy on his left knee" in London and had to go through a rehabilitation process.

Aaron Ramsey is in training after a groin injury but won't play.

Back-up goalkeeper David Ospina will start ahead of Petr Cech on Thursday and also at Wembley.