30/04/2014
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.
