Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny will likely return to the Arsenal squad for Monday’s clash with Reading although Theo Walcott is apparently no nearer to a return.

Koscielny, who suffered a groin strain against Everton a couple of weeks ago, will most likely take up a position on the bench, while Giroud, who missed Wednesday’s capitulation against Bradford, returns following a knock picked up in the win over West Bromwich Albion.

Theo Walcott hasn’t featured since injuring his calf in the defeat against Swansea at the beginning of the month. It remains to be seen whether he is thrown into the mix for the busy Christmas schedule, but you can’t help but feel the nearer it gets to the January transfer window (without him signing a contract) the more he may find himself marginalised.

The boss was also quizzed on the current state of Abou Diaby admitting that he is not in a position to put a date on the player’s return.

“We are in no-man’s land on that front. He is working, but we are waiting.”

It doesn’t sound positive for Diaby but it’s fair to say he won’t be playing for us again in 2012.