Oxlade-Chamberlain A Doubt For Liverpool Game As Arsenal’s Injury Crisis Deepens

Arsenal’s injury crisis has deepened even further with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain now a doubt to face Liverpool next weekend after aggravating a groin injury at the weekend, according to reports today.

Oxlade-Chamberlain starred during the Gunners 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday but was forced off in the 90th minute after suffering a recurrence of a groin problem that he picked up against Galatasaray last week.

The Mirror are one of several newspapers who are reporting this morning that the 21-year-old is now facing a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

The midfielder has been given an injection to try and ease the inflammation in his groin but Arsenal should know the full extent of the injury when further assessments are made at the clubs training base today.

Arsene Wenger confirmed that he wanted to take Oxlade-Chamberlain off sooner and fears the midfielder may have made the injury worse by playing on, but the Frenchman hopes the problem isn’t anything serious. He told reporters:

“He got a knock. He’s got a pain in his groin. I took him off quickly. I wanted to take him off, and then he takes the ball and crosses the whole pitch and [after that piece of action] he cannot run anymore.

“We cannot afford to lose him at the moment. I hope it’s nothing bad. He had a little bit of inflammation before the game. I took him to Galatasaray and maybe two games [in five days] was a lot for him.” Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mirror

It would be a huge blow if Arsenal were to lose Oxlade-Chamberlain as they are already having to make-do without fellow midfielders Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby.

The Ox was played in a more central area against Newcastle due to the limited options Wenger has at his disposal, so the Gunners boss will have a real dilemma on his hands if the England international is also ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Anfield.

Arsenal will also be without key defender Laurent Koscielny who is struggling with a calf injury, but there is some positive news on the injury front as Theo Walcott could be back in the squad after overcoming a groin problem.