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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Friday hinted that he could be ready to hand former Gunners centreback Sol Campbell, pictured in 2009, a surprise return to the Premier League.

Campbell, 35, has been training with his former team-mates and is currently without a club after last year's departure from Portsmouth and his subsequent ill-fated brief stint with fourth tier outfit Notts County.

The defender left Arsenal for Portsmouth in the summer of 2006 and the quality of his performances there must have given Wenger cause to regret letting him leave.

Asked if Campbell could be re-signed, Wenger answered equivocally. "We have a level of interest for every good player," the Frenchman said, before adding: "He trains very hard."

Wenger has indicated that he could be in the market for a new striker. West Ham's England striker Carlton Cole, Crystal Palace youngster Victor Moses and Real Madrid's Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain are among the names touted as possible candidates to fill the gap created by Robin van Persie's long-term injury.

"Speculation goes well at the moment," Wenger observed. "Sometimes people are very creative and imaginative.

"I have a big respect for the press in general, but some people are just not serious. They sit behind their desk and they think 'what kind of stupid idea can I create' and the next day you have to answer that stupid idea. That is not really serious."

With that proviso, Wenger did however confirm that he could be ready to spend this month. "If I find a really good opportunity we will do it but, for the rest, wait and see," he said.

Wenger dismissed reports that Cesc Fabregas could be on his way to Real Madrid.

"We have a long-term plan to be a winning team - and Cesc Fabregas is part of that," Wenger said. "We have worked very hard with all of our players, and they all have a very long contract commitment."

Arsenal take on Everton on Saturday having recovered from slipping 11 points behind Chelsea following their 3-0 home defeat by the Blues at the end of November to be right back in the title race.

And with his side in a rich vein of form, Wenger is keen for Saturday's fixture at the Emirates to survive the freezing weather following the enforced postponement of Wednesday's match against Bolton.

"We do not want a break because we have a good momentum and we do not want to interrupt that," Wenger said.

"But at the moment we have played many games and we have a short squad, so the midweek break was a little help to recover from some knocks and bruises."

Wenger added: "We tried everything to play against Bolton because the fixtures are a nightmare, and to find reasonable dates in the season is very difficult. Hopefully we can play tomorrow because it is very difficult to fix the games."

Fabregas will miss Saturday's match with a hamstring strain but is expected to return for next weekend's trip to Bolton.

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has resumed training following a groin problem, and could be back in action by the end of the month.