Lukasz Fabianski is staying positive as he waits for his chance to impress Arsène Wenger.

The Polish stopper has been restricted to four first-team appearances this season but he has impressed whenever called upon and could line up against Stoke City in the FA Cup on Sunday.

You could have forgiven the 24-year-old for feeling down in the dumps at the start of the campaign when an injury to Almunia coincided with his own two-month lay-off after knee surgery. Vito Mannone stepped into the first team and, by the time Fabianski was fully fit, so was Almunia.

That chance came and went but Fabianski, who signed a new contract last summer, is ready to take his next opportunity.

"The timing was bad for me [when Almunia was injured] and I could say that it should have been different but now I look at that very calmly. You have to make smart conclusions," he told Arsenal TV Online.

"I have had two years of great experience and even my bad injury helped me a lot. Some positives came out of the bad times and I was honestly surprised. I used that time really well because during that period I was at some stages really frustrated but then I changed my way of looking at the situation and at the end it made me a better person.

"It is really good to be in such a big club. I am still improving and that is a good thing. I signed a new contract and I feel really, really good here. For me it is important to fight for that first-team place.

"I am fighting really hard and it can take time to get there [to the No 1 spot] but when I get there I will really appreciate it because then it will be my time."

Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Philippe Senderos could leave Arsenal - and Celtic is a possible destination.

The Swiss defender has been linked with a move away from Emirates Stadium for some time and speculation over his future has intensified since Sol Campbell returned to Arsenal on a short-term contract.

According to reports, Senderos has been in talks with Scottish giants Celtic and Wenger told Arsenal TV Online that a move could be imminent.

"There is an interest from Celtic, yes. It may happen," he said.

"We have Sol Campbell and we have four centre backs.

"Philippe needs to play. He has not played for a long time and he needs to if he wants to go to the World Cup."

Arsène Wenger can only imagine how much better Arsenal would be doing this season had they not suffered so badly with injuries.

A number of key players have been forced into long-term absences this season and Wenger currently has eight of his first-teamers unavailable.

Despite this the Gunners have an opportunity to go top of the Premier League on Wednesday evening and fans can only dream about where Arsenal could have been had they been hit by injuries.

"You can imagine but you can never prove," agreed Wenger. "But it gives a lot of credit to the players that despite all that has happened we are still there.

"That, when you are such a young team, is something very interesting for our Club to have."

In spite of Arsenal's current League position Wenger is not getting ahead of himself, pointing out that there is still almost half of the season remaining. However, he is confident that his side has what it takes to bring silverware to Emirates Stadium this season.

"We have won nothing yet," he warned. "But we have won some credibility. However, that is not enough.

"We want more but at least we are in a position to fight for it and have a go.

"I have the confidence that my team will give absolutely everything.

"I trust their hunger, I trust their appetite and I trust their spirit, knowing of course that there is a long way to go."

New league leaders Arsenal will face Stoke City this Sunday in their fourth round F.A. Cup game. Speaking ahead of the game, manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that Abou Diaby will not recover in time to play and he will be joined on the sidelines by Bacary Sagna, who has trouble with one of his shoulders.

Wenger said:

Diaby has a calf problem. The first news is not bad but he has a scan tomorrow [Friday] and we will know more from there.

Of course, he is out for Stoke and certainly for the Villa game. There is hope he might be back for Manchester United but we don’t know yet.

From last night no [we lost no-one else]. But some have played on the fringe like Bacary Sagna, who has a bad shoulder. He will absolutely need to be rested. I will assess the situation on Friday and Saturday. But we will certainly make use of the squad.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, again one of the best players for the Gunners in the match against Bolton, was speaking to the official matchday programme about fellow Spaniard Fran Merida, who according to reports, could leave the North London Club this summer after failing to secure a regular place in midfield.

The 22-year old captain explained that he did talk to his younger compatriot and that everyone at Arsenal knows how good Merida is.

Fabregas said:

I was very pleased for Fran Merida, who scored his first league goal. It’s a real shame though that he injured his foot. I didn’t realise that until the next day and it’s a shame because it looked like he would have a good opportunity to have a place in the team to show what he can do.

It’s been frustrating for him because he hasn’t played three games in a row for a couple of years. That makes it very difficult for any player to show what you can do. Everyone one at Arsenal believes in him, so hopefully he’ll be back soon.

I have spoken to him about his future, because he will be out of contract soon. I didn’t persuade him to sign or not sign, I just told him my feelings, but of course whatever he decides will be down to him. That’s for him to say.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed Thomas Vermaelen suffered an injury which prevented him from facing Stoke City in the F.A. Cup, but together with Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy, he will be back for the crucial away game against Aston Villa.

Speaking after the 3-1 defeat against Stoke City which saw the Gunners crash out of the F.A. Cup, the Frenchman said:

I had not much choice I must say. Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen and Gael Clichy could not play and I think Sol Campbell had a good game overall. If you look at our schedule you cannot always play with the same XI that is for sure. If you rotate and you don’t win it is your fault so I can only stand up and say that is the team I picked. We have 10 injuries and we are going into a period where we cannot rotate a lot in the big games.

Sagna, Vermaelen and Clichy will all be back for Aston Villa and they could have missed it if they had played today.

After their 3-1 defeat against Egypt, Cameroon are out of the Africa Cup of Nations and this means Alex Song will join his Arsenal team mates and will be eligible for the game against Manchester United, at the Emirates.

More good news for the Arsenal midfield come from Aaron Ramsey, who featured in the Gunners’ FA Cup exit although Abou Diaby will be a doubt when they face the Red Devils.

Arsene Wenger’s team will face Aston Villa, away from home this Wednesday, in the first of four very important games which could decide the season of the Gunners.

The young Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone has committed his long term future to Arsenal today.

A report released on the official Arsenal website said: “Young Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone has signed a new long-term contract.

“The 21-year-old has already impressed for the first-team this season, making eight appearances – five in the Premier League and three in the Champions League – including his fine performance in the 1-0 away win at Fulham in September.

“Vito’s first-team breakthrough arrived on the final day of the 2008/09 season, when he played for the entirety of the 4-1 Premier League win against Stoke City at Emirates Stadium.

“As well as already making eight first-team appearances this season, Vito has appeared on the first-team bench 15 times this campaign across all competitions, and has been a regular feature in Neil Banfield’s Reserves in recent seasons.

“After joining Arsenal from Atalanta in 2005, Vito played four times on loan at Barnsley during the 2006/07 season, gaining valuable experience of the English game.

“Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Vito’s continued contribution to the Club in the years to come.”

Wenger obviously believes that Mannone will get even better in the future. Let’s hope he is right!

joking only

Arsène Wenger has not bought a new player this month because - so far - he hasn't found anyone who could strengthen his squad.

The Arsenal manager admitted last month that he would be in the market for a new striker in January following long-term injuries to Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.

However, Bendtner is on the cusp of a comeback and, even in his absence, Arsenal have been scoring goals at a faster rate than any other team in the Premier League.

Wenger has not ruled out a late swoop in the transfer window but he has certain criteria which must be met before he opens his cheque book.

"If I don't find better than what we have [then I will not buy]," said the Frenchman. "At the moment we have not found that.

"You can take players, they're on the market but it's a different thing to find good players that will, let's say, strengthen our squad.

"Also, we didn't know for a while if Bendtner would come back and when.

"It is commonly perceived [that we need a new striker] but we have the best goalscoring record.

"It's strange because I go to press conferences where you [reporters] ask me 'you let too many goals in'. Meanwhile we have the best attack and people ask me ‘why don't you buy strikers?'

Nicklas Bendtner is set to be named in an Arsenal squad for the first time in almost three months.

The Danish striker is expected to make the bench at Aston Villa on Wednesday night after recovering from a groin problem and hernia surgery.

The last time anyone saw Bendtner in a first-team shirt he was limping off in the early stages of the 3-0 win over Tottenham at Emirates Stadium on October 31. Arsenal have prospered since then but the return of the 23-year-old is still a major boost to Arsène Wenger.

"Bendtner has qualities that are important in the squad," said the manager. "He's a good player and he is tall as well.

"He will be on the bench, Nasri will be there too. They have had [only] one training session but we are short.

"Sagna has a shoulder injury that is still not completely clear. But he will start the game."

Elsewhere, Abou Diaby (calf) is still out and Aaron Ramsey is available after his surprise appearance on the bench at Stoke on Sunday following a thigh problem.

Philippe Senderos will not be offered a new contract at Arsenal.

The Swiss defender moved to Everton on loan this week in search of the top-flight matches he needs to win a place in Switzerland's squad at this summer's World Cup.

Wenger has not ruled out Senderos pulling on an Arsenal shirt again one day but, as it stands, he has no plans to offer the 24-year-old a new deal.

"No [he won't get a new contract]. And he knows that," confirmed Wenger at his pre-match press conference.

Senderos is not the only first-team squad member looking elsewhere for game time in the next few months - Jack Wilshere is expected to complete a temporary move in the next 48 hours.

But, as Wenger pointed out, the circumstances surrounding the two loan deals are very different.

"[The] Senderos [loan] is different. It is only his responsibility," said the manager.

"It is down to me to find an agreement with a club where he goes and afterwards it is only his responsibility whether he plays or not.

"Wilshere is a bit different, we want him to gain experience."

On the players who were substituted with injuries...
"Thomas Vermaelen we don't know. There will be an x-ray. He is on crutches and it is a fibula injury. We have to check tomorrow morning if it is just a nerve or a broken bone. Eduardo has a hamstring strain, a small one. But, for Sunday [Manchester United at home], he will be out."

On the 0-0 draw...
"I believe we dropped two points because we had clear chances but on the other hand it was a difficult game. They stopped us from playing when we had the ball and they played a long-ball game and closed us down, so it was difficult. We didn't always find our passing game. We know when we come here what we get and we were not disappointed. [The result] keeps our unbeaten run going. If you put all the games together I believe it maintains the positive vibes. Overall, you have to win any game at the moment. Compared to Chelsea who won today, we dropped two points."

On Aston Villa...
"They play a very efficient English game, with long balls and it is very physical. They are a good side at counter attacking. When we took the gamble to go forward and they won the ball, they are quick and that is why it was always us managing to create chances and score, or them catching us on the counter attack or playing on Agbonlahor or Heskey with long balls."

On Stewart Downing's chances...
"He had two good chances today; one in the first half and one in the second half. They were the lucky moments but I must say we missed some chances today that we are not used to missing. When we hit the bar there was no keeper in the goal and when the ball came back from the post our two players were stopping each other from scoring the goal."

On Aston Villa's top-four credentials...
"I wish them to have a good run now because they are quality. They are well-organised and have a strong spirit. They are very strong physically and the four in midfield do not stop running and all these players can score goals, so they have a chance. I think they have a very good chance but you have seven teams for four places."

On the nature of the game...
"It was not a dirty game it was a committed game. I think it was a fair game, but not dirty at all."

On the next three games...
"We want to win our next home game, it is as simple as that. We go from game to game because if you think too much ahead it is not too good."

On if the result at Villa Park increases the pressure to beat Manchester United on Sunday...
"We have enough pressure. We want to win the game. We play against Manchester United at home and of course we want to win this game and hopefully we will not be hit too hard with the injuries. If we lose again two players tonight, it will be difficult for us."

On if he would be happy to replace Vermaelen with Sol Campbell should he need to on Sunday...
"Sol has not played for six months and just in three days he had two big games, so I will have to see how he recovers."