Arsenal Handed Major Injury Boost Ahead Of Chelsea Clash

Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost ahead of Saturday’s clash against Chelsea with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not expected to miss the game with a calf injury, according to the Daily Mail.

With both Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey sidelined through injury, The Ox has been playing in a more central position in recent weeks and has been hugely impressive in the ‘box-to-box’ role.

His all-action displays have seen him become a key member of Arsene Wenger’s first team so there was concern in north London that the 20-year-old could be set for a spell on the sidelines after he was forced off with a calf complaint during the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

However, those fears appear to have been dispersed with the Daily Mail claiming that Oxlade-Chamberlain has not suffered any serious injury and is expected to be passed fit to face Chelsea this weekend.

The news will come as a welcome boost to the Gunners with several of their first team already out through injury. Mesut Ozil was the latest key player to be ruled out as the German joined Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey on the sidelines last week with a hamstring injury, so to lose Oxlade-Chamberlain as well would really have stretched Wenger’s midfield resources.

The Frenchman does have January loan signing Kim Kallstrom to call upon after he recovered from a back injury, but to throw the Swedish midfielder into such an intense and important game straight away would have been a huge risk.

Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge on Saturday just four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand so a positive result over the leaders would really put them in the frame for the Premier League title this season.