Bendtner eases need for striker

London : The pressure on Arsenal to strengthen their attack has been eased after tests on Nicklas Bendtner's troublesome groin revealed the Dane should be fit to return within two weeks.

Arsene Wenger continues to monitor targets and still hopes to sign the Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh under the Bosman ruling in the summer despite Liverpool's interest, but he will not pay over the odds for recruits this month with Bendtner so close to a return. He suggested he was more likely to bolster his defence, by re-signing the former England centre-half Sol Campbell, than adding a striker.

Bendtner's return to fitness, having been absent since October, has provided a lift, with Arsenal resigned to being without Robin van Persie possibly for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

"Nicklas is doing well in training, had a good session today and the news is quite good," Wenger said.

"He'll join in with the first-team next week. His fitness is not too bad, actually, because he has worked hard. He can do the job [as a central striker], even if he's a different type of player to Van Persie. But it gives me a few options in there.

"His return will influence [what we do]. If he'd been ruled out for two months, we wouldn't have had a choice but to sign someone. It would have been an absolute that we signed a striker. But now we can be a little bit more relaxed. We can take it or leave it if we don't find what we want."

— Guardian News and Media Ltd