Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will soon have something he has almost never had a chance to savor - a full squad bereft if injuries to choose from.
Wenger confirmed some positive news ahead of the clash against Newcastle United, saying, apart from long-term injury casualty Lukasz Fabianski, the rest of his squad would be available within the next week.
Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky, who missed the game against Wigan due to illness, have been passed fit for the game at The Emirates.
"We should not have any new injuries from our last game," Wenger told reporters. "Giroud and Rosicky should be available again. They were sick at Wigan."
Over the past few years, the Gunners have always found it difficult to cope with injuries to some of their key players, but things are now looking up, with Andre Santos and, more importantly, Abou Diaby set to return to training next week.
"They should be coming back into training with the squad next week," Wenger said."
Wenger gave all the credit to his backroom staff for putting in the good work, which has gone a long way in giving the Frenchman an abundance of options.
"It is unusual, especially at this period of the season," he added. "It is down to the continuing good work we are doing behind the scenes at the club.
"We hope that it continues because it is important to go into January with a full squad and we will be losing Gervinho to the Africa Cup of Nations."
Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere admitted the 16-month enforced injury absence might actually help him in the long-term. "I was at Emirates for every single home match," Wilshere told the official Arsenal Magazine. "It was hard at times, because I really wanted to be out there.
"Not just for my own selfish reasons but I wanted to help the team too because we had some difficult periods last season.
"There were a few moments (it was hard to miss out on). When Thierry came back in January for example. He's a legend and I really wanted to play in the same team as him. I also would have loved to play in that north London derby in February.
"When I look back now though, I could probably have done with a break, having played so much the previous season.
"Obviously I didn't want the break to be so long, in fact I didn't want to have a break at all, but if I look back on this in 10 years' time, it might have done me some good in the long run."
