The official season is yet to start for Arsenal yet manager Arsene Wenger is already facing injury and fitness level problems.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Frenchman revealed that 22-year old striker Nicklas Bendtner will miss the first game against Liverpool at Anfield and how no return date has been set on his comeback. Fortunately, midfielders Abou Diaby and Denilson should be fit for the Gunners’ last pre-season friendly and the first Premiership game on August 15.

Wenger also confirmed what he said last month and that’s how players need at least four weeks off after the World Cup Finals, reason why Holland’s Robin van Persie and Spain’s Cesc Fabregas could also miss the trip to Anfield.

Arsenal will be delighted to have seen strikers Marouane Chamakh and Carlos Vela score against SC Neusiedl 1919 and to see a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in brilliant form as the three of them could be needed when the season kicks off.

Ahead of the Premiership start, Wenger said:

Bendtner will not be available for the start of the season. We don’t know [how bad it is].

Denilson should be [fit] – maybe not for the Emirates Cup but for the Warsaw game and Diaby as well.

Fabregas and Van Persie are due to come back on August 5 and from then on we will see how much build-up work is needed physically and as well how they have recovered mentally from the World Cup.

They might be short for the first game [of the season] but I don’t know, that will depend on the fitness work they have done during the holiday.