Danny Welbeck says he cannot wait to return to action for Arsenal.

The England forward had an encouraging debut season in north London, scoring the winner in the FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United before missing the final months of the campaign through injury.

Welbeck has worked hard to recover from a knee operation in September, and is getting closer to stepping up his rehabilitation.

"It’s difficult to see the lads when you’re still in the gym, doing double days, but once I get back out on the pitch and start running I will be much happier" Danny Welbeck

“It’s slow and steady but it’s coming along,” he told Arsenal Player. “It’s difficult to see the lads when you’re still in the gym, doing double days, but once I get back out on the pitch and start running I will be much happier. It’s a difficult period for me but I’m looking forward to coming back strong.

“I want to get back out on the pitch, keep on improving, keep training and keep fit - that’s the main thing. I just want to get back to playing football.

"I’m trying to build to muscle and it’s hard, but it’s something that I’ve grasped with two hands and I’m really looking forward to my return.”

One positive for Welbeck, however, is that he has been able to watch Arsenal’s matches from the stands, giving him a different perspective of the game and his team-mates.

“I’ve been impressed,” he said. “I trained with them every single day when I was fit and you obviously appreciate every single player in their own ways.

“But when you watch the game from afar, and you know how difficult it is, some of the passes and vision, the play and goals, is really impressive."

Listen to an exclusive interview with Danny Welbeck on the Arsenal Weekly podcast.