Arsenal Face Injury Crisis As Key Duo Ruled Out For Crunch Games

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is facing an injury crisis as Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been ruled out of our next three matches, according to the Express.

Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off after just two minutes of our Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last night after pulling up with an apparent hamstring problem.

Walcott came on for his England colleague but he lasted little over 15 minutes after also going down needing treatment on a calf injury. The 26-year-old tried to run it off but was soon on his way down the tunnel to join Oxlade-Chamberlain in the treatment room.

Arsene said after the game the pair would be sent for further assessment before he’d know how serious the injuries were but admitted it looked as though they were facing a spell on the sidelines.

It appears that has now been confirmed as the Express are citing a report from the BBC which suggests that Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain have both been ruled out for Arsenal’s next three matches.

That means the duo will miss Saturday’s trip to Swansea City, Wednesday’s crucial Champions League clash at Bayern Munich and next Sunday’s North London derby when we entertain Tottenham at the Emirates.

The news will come as a major blow to Wenger as he already has a lengthy injury list to contend with as Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, David Ospina and Danny Welbeck are all currently on the sidelines.

However, there have been suggestions that the Walcott injury could have been prevented had the boss given him enough time to complete a proper warm-up on the touchline before sending him on the pitch, so perhaps he has to take some of the blame.

Either way, we’re now down to the bare bones in midfield and attack as we head in to a pivotal week that could define our Premier League and Champions League aspirations.

The good news is that after the Spurs game we have another international break and we could have Arteta, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey back by the time we take on West Brom on November 21st.