LONDON -- Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has been ruled out of the FA Cup final after failing to recover from a knee injury that will also keep him out of England's upcoming international games.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was hopeful earlier this week that Welbeck would recover in time to play a part in Saturday's FA Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley, but he confirmed that the 24-year-old will not play again this season.
"Danny Welbeck will not be fit, not for us and not for England," Wenger told a news conference on Wednesday morning. "That is basically the only injury we have at the moment. We knew he would be short. He did not practice until Friday so we knew he would be short.
"We called the FA yesterday to explain that the bone bruising at the knee had not healed and he had to rest. It is not a setback. It just took longer than expected."
The injury looks set to keep Welbeck out of England's friendly against Republic of Ireland on June 7 and the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia on June 14.
Wenger also confirmed Theo Walcott has staked his claim to start at Wembley with his hat trick against West Brom last weekend, and says he views the 26-year-old as a central striker.
"He has shown that he is back in good form," Wenger said. "What is important is we don't make too many individual comments before a cup final. It is the whole team that can win it.
"I believe he can play up front. It has taken him time to get back to his top form, but in the future, I expect him to be a central striker.
"I don't know who will start yet and it is basically not important. In the FA Cup, all that matters is to bring the trophy back.
"Often in the FA Cup, the heroes are the people who come on, so that is why it is important that we deal with it as a whole squad."
Wenger added that he has yet to inform his two goalkeepers -- David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny -- who will start against Villa at Wembley, while defender Mathieu Debuchy and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are fully fit once again and pushing for starting roles.