Promising Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong made a welcome return from a serious knee injury in Tuesday night's reserves win over Sunderland.

The 19-year-old had featured alongside Jack Wilshere for the Gunners' pre-season matches, and produced impressive displays in the Emirates Cup against the AC Milan and Celtic. However, Frimpong then suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in training and was set for a frustrating extended spell on the sidelines.

Reserves manager Neil Banfield told www.arsenal.com: "It's great for Emmanuel, he was distraught after doing his knee. He was giving himself every opportunity for the manager to pick him [before his injury] and now he has got to get himself back to that level."

He added: "Emmanuel is coming back and playing which, at this moment in time, is the best thing."

England youth international Frimpong, who was born in Ghana and could yet go on to represent the Black Stars, came on for the final 22 minutes of the second-string's 4-2 win over Sunderland and could yet be back in first-team contention by the end of the campaign.

Veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann got another 90 minutes under his belt for the reserves as he looks to build up match sharpness.

Following the frustrating goalless draw against Blackburn, the destiny of the Barclays Premier League is now out of Arsenal's hands, trailing leaders Manchester United by seven points, albeit having played a match less ahead of their showdown at Emirates Stadium on May 1.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was visibly down after Saturday's flat performance, and for the first time perhaps suggested his unwavering faith in the young side could have been misplaced.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown feels some experienced heads may be needed in the summer.

Keown told www.Sport.co.uk: "Certain players have been disappointing and he needs to address the balance of the squad. It has been unusual to hear him questioning his squad's technical ability. It is unheard of for him to criticise the team like that in public - it is a change of stance and maybe one that will see a reaction. We will have to see."

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has pointed to Arsenal’s key players as their best assets in the run in to the season end, with the Gunners still in big contention for the Barclays Premier League title.

“[Samir] Nasri though is a player that I think is outstanding,” Keown told Sport.co.uk.

“And for such a young man, [Jack Wilshere] seems to be the main driving force in that midfield and particularly when Fabregas isn’t around.

“Jack’s been fantastic and we’ve seen flashes of brilliance from [Robin] van Persie.”

Despite Arsenal’s current setbacks in their league title charge, Keown believes the Gunners should be given a lot of credit even if they don’t finish on top this season.

“Let’s remember that for all the doom and gloom, the team are only just second place and well ahead of teams that have spent far more money than them," he said.

The ex-Arsenal defender also believes Wenger is the right man for the job, despite fans becoming a little edgy about the Arsenal manager not having won a trophy in six years.

“You watch from the sideline and you have a great deal of respect for the guys in the dugout. It’s very difficult as an ex-player I can tell you,” Keown said.

“We [ex players] support Arsene Wenger in everything he does because we’ve worked for him and know him to be an outstanding manager.”

The 44 year old also points to Chelsea to argue that spending big money on players, something Wenger has never favoured as a tactic, doesn’t always necessarily being fruitful returns.

“Some clubs think that is the answer to everything – spending money.

“Well look at Fernando Torres, Chelsea spent £50 million on him and he hasn’t yet scored for his club – the answer isn’t necessarily going out and spending vast sums of cash on one player.”