Arsene Wenger Offers Injury Update On Aaron Ramsey

Arsene Wenger has offered an update after Aaron Ramsey limped out of Arsenal’s shock 2-1 defeat to Watford at the Emirates on Tuesday night.

Ramsey was restored to the starting eleven after being rested for our FA Cup win at Southampton on Saturday evening but he went down clutching his leg in the 20th minute.

After receiving some treatment from the physio the Welsh international was eventually forced off to be replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle of the park.

It capped a nightmare 20 minutes for Ramsey as a Younes Kaboul free kick took a wicked deflection off the midfielder for the opening goal before he failed to control a Gabriel throw-in which led to Watford’s decisive second goal.

It looks like Ramsey could now be facing a spell on the sidelines as Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the 26-year-old came off with a calf strain – although the boss wouldn’t be drawn on how long the midfielder could be ruled out for.

It’s a huge blow as even a minor calf strain will take a couple of weeks to heal so Ramsey is now set to miss Saturday’s huge trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Premier League leaders Chelsea.

With Mohamed Elneny away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Granit Xhaka suspended and Santi Cazorla still nursing an Achilles injury we are now down to the bare bones in midfield for arguably the biggest game of the season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was excellent in midfield against Southampton at the weekend and did well when he replaced Ramsey tonight but unfortunately he was seen limping towards the end of the Watford game so it remains to be seen whether that problem may also keep him out of the trip to Chelsea.

If so, then it will be interesting to see who Wenger goes with on Saturday. Alex Iwobi was moved in to the middle this evening but the boss might opt to give youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles a chance after he impressed against Southampton.

Speaking at his post match press conference, Wenger said on Ramsey:

An update on Aaron…

“He has a calf strain. We don’t know how long he’ll be out for yet.”#AFCvWFC pic.twitter.com/DERrjsiMRh

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 31, 2017