LONDON -- Arsenal won't give up on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after his latest injury setback, Arsene Wenger has promised.
The 22-year-old midfielder was ruled out of the European Championship after sustaining a new knee injury in training that will keep him sidelined for up to two months. It's the latest blow for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been out since initially hurting his knee in February and was also injured just ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has two years left on his current contract but speculation about a possible transfer this summer had increased lately after the midfielder struggled to lock down a starting place this season even when fit. But Wenger said Arsenal's interest in offering the 22-year-old a contract extension "will not change" because of his injuries.
"We invested a lot of time [in him], so we will not give up now," Wenger said.
The Arsenal boss signed Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton in 2011 and the England international has made 100 league appearances for the club since then. But like so many other Arsenal players, his career has been blighted by injuries and he has never played in more than 25 league games in a season.
His injury in the Barcelona game came after a heavy collision with Javier Mascherano that damaged his knee ligaments.
His latest setback was different, as he extended his medial ligament when sliding on the pitch Monday in training, Wenger said.
"It was completely accidental, no tackle, nothing. He did it alone," Wenger said. "He changed direction because a pass came behind him, and did it."
Wenger insisted that the midfielder isn't injury prone.
"He's a fantastic athlete," Wenger said. "We don't see any weakness."