Cesc Fabregas hopes to be back in action for Arsenal by early April. "The doctors have told me that in the next 10 days or so I can start touching the ball again," Fabregas wrote in his matchday programme notes ahead of the Premier League game against Sunderland.

"The most important thing is working on my legs to build them up, which will take another three weeks or so. Hopefully, in five or six weeks I will be back playing.

"I am looking at the Manchester City game on April 4 as a realistic comeback date."

"The problem with this injury is that it is on my right knee and on the inside of the knee, and of course my game is a lot about passing," he added.

"I touch the ball 120 times per game, so all of the time I am using that leg.

"I have to make sure it is 100% cured before I come back."