Wenger’s Injury Update: Duo Ruled Out, Midfielder Back + Oxlade-Chamberlain Latest

Arsenal will continue the defence of their FA Cup when we entertain Middlesbrough at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and gave Arsenal.com a team news and injury update.

The boss confirmed that Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that he suffered against Leicester City on Tuesday night. The club are unable to explain why it’s the third time the midfielder has picked up a hamstring problem this season but thankfully the latest injury should only keep him out for a couple of weeks.

Wenger also revealed that Alexis Sanchez is expected to miss the game this weekend. The Chilean is yet to return to training after picking up a knee injury in midweek and the boss feels he’ll be ‘short’ on Sunday.

However, there is better news regarding the fitness of Jack Wilshere as the midfielder could be back in contention to face Middlesbrough after returning to full training. It remains to be seen whether Jack will start the game but Wenger says he needs competitive matches to get back to his best, so I expect we’ll see him at some point.

With Wilshere now fit again, it leaves Mathieu Debuchy, Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as our injured players, and the boss confirmed that The Ox will be the first to return but he’s not expected back for at least two more weeks.

Wenger told the clubs website:

on team news…

Aaron Ramsey will be out, he has a little hamstring strain. Alexis is still not able to go out, he could be short again for Sunday. Jack Wilshere’s back in normal training but has been out for [more than two] months and misses competition. He worked very hard and is focused, committed, but it will take him a while to get back to competitive level.

on whether Ramsey has an underlying problem…

We haven’t found the underlying reason. There is an underlying reason that is certainly medical or bio-mechanical because he is a guy who is serious, works hard, has a controlled and disciplined life, so there’s no obvious reason why he should have muscular problems.
[Jack] worked very hard and is focused, committed, but it will take him a while to get back to competitive level

on whether he would change his training regime…

No, we have individualised training for the players and prevention. I don’t think that is any special case that has been neglected, it’s just that we have to find a reason why that happens. It’s not a major injury, it’s a Grade One, a small injury, a small muscle problem.

on whether it will keep Ramsey out for about two weeks…

Yes.

on Jack Wilshere…

He’s motivated and focused to come back as quickly as possible. He worked very hard but he has still been out for [more than two] months and what he needs now is to get back. Competition gives you that sharpness that training cannot give you because it’s about a combination of fitness and decision-making – and speed of decision-making. It takes a while to get that back.

on Arteta, Debuchy and Oxlade-Chamberlain…

The closest of the three is Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsene is expected to make some changes for the game on Sunday with the likes of Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Calum Chambers, Gabriel and Danny Welbeck all pushing for recalls, but we’ll still field a team more than capable of beating the Championship hopefuls.