Arsenal's Danny Welbeck ruled out for three weeks but Jack Wilshere closes in on return

Initially, Arsenal thought the knock, picked up in April, would only rule him out for a couple of weeks but the striker still has not managed to start full training and will certainly miss the next round of international matches next month.

Wenger said: “He is not close because he has not started full training. It will be at least three weeks from today.”

There is brighter news on Jack Wilshere, who has returned from holiday in Dubai ready to start training in earnest and he is only a couple of weeks away.

“Jack is back in training although we thought at first it would six to eight weeks,” Wenger said. “Now it could be three or four, so that is quite positive.

“I always bring him back when he says he’s ready and when fitness coaches say he has the right quantity of work behind him.

“Maybe when he was younger we overplayed him sometimes because he is such a good player but now we are quite cautious with him.”

And after an unexpected substitute appearance for Alexis Sanchez against West Ham on Sunday, the Chile international is in contention for a start against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

“He’s fit and had a good work-out during the week,” Wenger confirmed.

The game has taken on additional importance after the opening day defeat against the Hammers, but Wenger is expecting an appropriate reaction from his players at Selhurst Park.

Wenger said: “Passion, love – that’s when it hurts. We have a big following and disappointed people are emotional. We have disappointed people who have high levels of expectation but we have to put things into perspective.

“We were disappointed with the result and performance against West Ham. Of course, what you want is down to the way you respond to disappointment.

“We have to be honest enough.  Let’s look inside ourselves and produce the performance we expect.

“We’ve always responded well, but a defeat is never a blessing. It always hurts.

“We have analysed what happened and we have not to go overboard. It is a defeat and it hurts but it shouldn’t take away belief in our potential.

“Every defeat makes you a little bit smaller but it’s our job to take it into perspective with 37 games to go and history behind us in the second half of the campaign last year.

“We have shown we have the quality to respond and be consistent. You know you will lose a game in the season. That was not planned but we know it’s how we respond.”

Debutant Petr Cech came in for particular criticism for his role in both goals but Wenger put that down to the former Chelsea player’s eagerness to do well for his new team.

“Like a great goalkeeper he stood up for what happened to him,” Wenger said. “The focus is on the next one. He analyses it well. He is a bright man and knows it’s down to how well he responds.

“Maybe he was want to save the team in a situation when our defending was not great.”