Key quartet return for Arsenal

Simon Peach,Pa
Friday 01 April 2011 05:35 EDT
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Van Persie remains a doubt
Van Persie remains a doubt (GETTY IMAGES)

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be able to welcome back four key players from injury for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn.

Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby have all recovered from their respective ailments and are set to feature in the vital match at the Emirates Stadium.

All four missed the 2-2 draw at West Brom last time out and Wenger is optimistic that Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey could join them in the squad despite picking up knocks on international duty.

The Arsenal boss insists he will not make a final decision on the trio until after training today but is confident they will form part of Saturday's squad.

"[Fabregas, Song, Walcott and Diaby] will all be available," Wenger told ArsenalTV Online. "I have not decided if they will start the game yet but they will all be available.

"Van Persie has a good chance too. He has a final assessment tomorrow but we believe he will be fit. It is a bruised knee.

"Nicklas Bendtner is in the same situation. He will have a test tomorrow on his ankle and we'll see.

"In fact, we have a few players with tests tomorrow - Ramsey with his groin, Bendtner with his ankle, Van Persie with his knee. I will make a decision after training in the morning."

Denilson is the only certain absentee for Rovers' visit after being ruled out with a toe injury and will drop out the line-up that started at the Hawthorns a fortnight ago as a consequence.

Wenger admitted he was disappointed with the draw at West Brom but is keen to remain focused on the run-in and their tilt at the Premier League crown.

"We believe the negatives are easy to correct, because it was quite painful to concede the goals the way we did," he said.

"Overall for the run-in, it was important for us not to lose because we are on a long unbeaten run now and to keep that going psychologically will be very important for the team.

"The only way to approach every game at the moment is as if it the last one of the season," he added.

"Of course you are aware of the fixtures, you know who your opponents are and I know we have a couple of London derbies, which are special games.

"It is true I have looked at the run-ins of our rivals as well, but the most important thing is for us to be focused on ourselves."

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