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Arsenal loan signing Kim Kallstrom is ready to give Arsene Wenger a huge fitness boost.

Swedish midfielder Kallstrom, 31, who joined Arsenal in January despite having a back injury, is nearing match fitness.

Kallstrom even has an outside chance of making the squad to face Everton in Saturday's FA Cup tie after telling the Swedish FA's medical staff he is "close to being fit."

Gunners boss Wenger caused a major surprise by signing Kallstrom on loan from Spartak Moscow even though his medical showed up a fractured vertebrae and even Arsenal feared he may not play this season.

But Kallstrom has made impressive progress and, even though he was not picked for Sweden's friendly with Turkey this week, he is close to making his debut.

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Aaron Ramsey is also on the road to recovery and has targeted the Tottenham game on Sunday week as a potential comeback after his long running thigh problem.

Arsenal are hoping to extend Ramsey's contract within the next fortnight to make him one of the club's top earners - little over a year after he signed a five-year deal.

Arsenal yesterday also announced new deals for Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky and will take up a one-year extension option for Santi Cazorla.

Rosicky, who has signed a new one year deal, said: "I'm very happy that I'm staying here. I can say that I'm proud that I'm still here after such a long time and that it still continues so I'm glad I'm here."

Mertesacker, who had just over a year left on his previous deal, said: "It was easy for me to commit myself to the Club. I have been here for two and a half lovely years, with full support and full dedication from a lot of people, so I am really looking forward to having more years coming up with this fantastic club. I think we have a great team and we want to build on our current success."

Is Kim Kallstrom the man to help Arsenal end their trophy drought this season?