Arsene Wenger Confirms Fresh Injury Blow

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a groin injury.

The midfielder starred in our FA Cup semi final win over Wigan just over two weeks ago but it’s come to light that he struggled to train in the run-up to the game at Wembley and has played just 18 minutes since having come off the bench against West Ham three days later.

The Ox was left on the bench for last weeks win at Hull and wasn’t even in the squad for last nights victory over Newcastle, and Arsene revealed after the game that the 20-year-old has been given two weeks off to rest a niggling groin problem that’s troubled him in recent weeks.

It means Oxlade-Chamberlain is now certain to miss our final two Premier League games against West Brom and Norwich City, but Arsene says he ‘has a chance’ of being in contention to take on Hull in the FA Cup final on the 17 May.

The boss is quoted as saying by the Independent:

“He [Oxlade-Chamberlain] has an inflammation of his groin. He couldn’t practise. I put him on Friday on the team sheet and played him when he was needed, but it came to a point where it didn’t progress.”

“We decided to give him a complete rest for two weeks. Will he be involved with me? I think he has a chance. But will he be ready for England? I think so.”

Obviously it’s a blow to lose The Ox for these last few games but hopefully he can shake off the groin injury and get himself fit to feature in the Cup final at Wembley. It would be gutting for him to miss such an occasion and the same goes for Jack Wilshere – who is also in a race against time to get himself fit.

It doesn’t sound like either player is in danger of missing out on the World Cup but they are going to want to get some game time under their belts to try and persuade Roy Hodgson they should be part of his 23-man squad for Brazil 2o14.