Football
9y

Arsenal waiting to hear on extent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain groin issue

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be set for another midfield injury blow with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's groin problem to be assessed in the next few days.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21, started Saturday's 4-1 win against Newcastle despite suffering from inflammation in his groin, and signalled to the Gunners bench towards the end of the match that he was in pain.

Arsenal are already without Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, as well as having a lengthy defensive injury list, with Wenger admitting it is vital he does not lose the England international ahead of the hectic festive fixture schedule.

"I wanted to take him off and then he takes the ball and crosses the whole pitch and cannot run anymore," Wenger is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "We cannot afford to lose him at the moment. He's got a pain in his groin. I took him to Galatasaray [last Tuesday] and maybe two games was a lot for him."

Oxlade-Chamberlain could still be fit to face Liverpool on Sunday, with Wenger also handing his players a three-day Christmas break to recharge.

"I've given the players some days off for their Christmas and we come back on Wednesday to prepare for Sunday," he said. "Most of them will stay in England because their families are here. When you count the number of games, including the Champions League, it's important to have a break."

Arsenal's victory at the weekend was their fifth in six games, with Wenger hailing the recent return of Olivier Giroud, who scored twice against Newcastle.

"He is like an English centre-forward," Wenger said. "He has had a positive mental impact as well as a positive physical impact. He gives us different options because we can go for a longer ball."

^ Back to Top ^