Arsene Wenger has revealed that the injury picked up by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ‘quite serious’, and will keep him out for at least a few weeks.
The midfielder was injured in a clash with Javier Mascherano, and although he carried on he limped off early in the second half.
Speaking at his press conference this morning, Wenger said, “We lost Chamberlain on Tuesday, his injury is quite serious. He was cut in two by Mascherano, it wasn’t malicious, just a fully committed tackle.
“He’s seeing a specialist today, he’s injured at his knee. Hopefully we have good news on that, but he’s definitely out for a few weeks. How long after that I don’t know.”
Asked if it might mean he misses Euro 2016, the Arsenal manager said he thought that wouldn’t be the case, although much will depend on what the specialist says today.
Confirming that Gabriel was due for fitness tests today and tomorrow, he was then asked about Danny Welbeck and it was put to him that it looked as if he’d never been away.
“That’s not the case,” said Wenger. “People are quick to make assessments like that, but he’s been out for a while. We still have to be cautious with him.”
And on whether or not he might start against his former club, he said, “He’s doing very well, but I haven’t picked my team yet for Sunday.”
Good night, sweet prince
These group of players are injury prone beyond mere words. Yes – all teams get injuries but none get them like we do. The last six years have been a nightmare. One crucial injury after another. And they are not just knocks that keep them out for one or two games. It’s invariably serious stuff that ends their season. I really don’t know what to suggest as a remedy. We’ve tried new fitness coaches, Wenger says he’s changed certain things in training. Whether he has or not, only he knows. But it’s the same old thing with one key player… Read more »
Go check the injury table and you will surprised. We are improving.
It’s less that we’re improving as a lot of other clubs are doing worse.
Bad news for him, the club and indeed for England. I fear this is going to be another “weeks turns to months” injury. He has frustrated this season, but I can’t believe there’s cretins who claim to support this club who are somehow trying to frame his injury as a good thing, because of his poor form.
Nonetheless, it’s time for Joel, Theo, Welbz and (to be honest) Alexis to really step up if we’re going to make this title tilt. Let’s fucking have it lads.
Oh, right.
I think Walcott will start up front..
I believed and hope this would be the season of chamberlain’s definitive breakthrough. Sadly both injury and mediocre performances says different
I believed the same, and even got his name on the back of my jersey to show it. Hopefully next year…
unecessary injury, he could’ve avoid it if he uses his brean.
Agreed, said same about Theodore’s injury way back at Sp*rs. Its okay to full blooded about a tackle but its also allowed to use your brain.
Oxs knocked the ball far from his reach without the coordination of his brain. I’d like to know how some of this footballers did in school.
Says the one that can’t spell brain
Did someone call?
“Brean” is the Scottish spelling
You better step the fuck up Theodore
It is massive shame to lose a player but at least we have cover for him and it is not as if he has had an amazing season – he doesn’t need anyone else telling him that. I hope that he get’s back soon and pushes on. Every player has a blip and I think AW is right to stick with him as he has shown what he can do in the past. I am sure he will come good again. We seem to have better shape when Rambo was on the right so I will be pleased to see… Read more »
This.
Yes, brains. Walcot needs that too. Both of them keep colliding with defenders
I need a brain as well.
Me too. Lots of brains.
Just so you know Arsene, I’m available on Sunday.
I mean, I’d have to rearrange a few things, but I can play if you need me to.
And I’ll need a lift to Manchester, but I’m happy to play.
There is a good chance you’ll be involved.
Arsene always plays with his zip on a cold & windy day up north!
You should have taken him off straight away Arsene….big mistake as it was bloody obvious he was injured seriously enough to have to come off. Very annoying.
If a substitution followed every time a player had to leave the pitch every match in the PL would finish 5 a side.
Fact is knee knocks, ankle turns, rib cracks, etc. can all be difficult to recognize the severity of in the moment because adrenaline and endorphins mask the pain and sometimes only a certain movement identifies the there is a problem. Ask Santi.
I did my knee ligaments two years ago during a game (stupidly carried on for ten minutes afterwards too!) and took another year to get over it.
Good luck Chamberlain. I have faith in this kid.
This might seem untimely but I’ve seen enough from Chamberlain and still not convinced. I think if a decent offer comes in Arsene should take it. The British ‘core’ shall be our undoing, too comfortable.
me too, enough of this ‘promising’ stuff.ffs!i have been saying this but joel campbell is a far superior player to this lot of british core players ( theo, welbz, gibbs, the ox) how many years are going to wait till they confirm?. but the bpl is ‘the best league ” in europe , so british players must be the best. gosh, respect to the ones who dare to go abroad and try to improve their skills . arsene wake up.
I don’t understand how he continued to play at the end of 1st half and in second till the 55 minute, same with cazorla which I’m sure both of them aggravated their injuries and instead of 2 months like coq who ask for a change immediately cazorla was out 4 months and now with ox the same. How can doctors don’t detect that is a serious knee injury like wenger says, and made a change immediately instead they are letting players to decide on their own and continue to play, I really don’t understand it already happened with cazorla.
Its hard to tell when the joint is warmed up whether the injury is a knock (bruise) or a serious tear. if anything we probably are over cautious on injuries and tend to not ask players to play through the pain barrier.
It seemed crazy at the time to keep him on, particularly so as it put more pressure on everyone else with the Ox so far off the pace.
Thought he looked pretty lively (if lacking composure once or twice) before the injury. Such a shame.
when did we have a player with a few weeks off with an injury always months im surprised he made a statement about the injury having said he hasnt seen the specialist yet, hope for the best so 2 weeks off then a reaction then an operation end of season AFC DNA
“He was cut in two” Lol
Gunnerblog did a peace yesterday for for betway and I agree. Ox has had his chances. He is young agreed but having been with the first team setup for close to five years, questions have to be asked about his development. Truly he realised that he had overhit the ball and the crash with masch was an attempt at self-redemption. Poor technique witj the touch and poor decision making with the challenge.
Harsh tone around here about Ox, including today’s blog. Some have the same approach regarding Wilshere, yet I truly believe both of them, along with Ramsey, will be Arsenal’s future world class players.
Strike Ramsey out.
Why, because he’s the most regular starter and consistent performer of the three in a team sitting second in the league with a strong shout?
Don’t buy into the lazy storylines.
EVERYONE, even the Barca players must have known Ox couldn’t continue but he did and even came out for the second half..
Such incompetence on Arsenes part who would never allow Ozil or say Sanchez run themselves into the ground like that
Says a lot about Chambos status at the club really.
Against Chelsea earlier in the season (or was it last year? At the Bridge?) Ozil did his knee in the first half. Heard a crack, apparently. Played on, the whole game.
Ozil felt a crack (how many times do sportsmen feel that and turns out to be nothing?)
While the Oxs legs was basically wiped, knocked, obliterated the fuck out.
Two hugely contrasting scenarios.
At 22-23 he still young to be judged…he clearly has great potentials…all he needs is to reset his mind because the way he misses his chances is a worry for all of us..
Hope he makes the euros but I’m starting to sense the clock is ticking for him at arsenal.. Still, a loan next season could do wonders.
Ox has been architect of his own downfall. His touches while running with the ball were heavy and contributed towards his injury. I also think Wenger should have taken him off given his injury record.
To be honest, I think he needs a time out, not too long hopefully. This season has been baffling, expected him to have a Ramsey a la 2013-14.
It was a typical Ox and typical Arsenal situation.
1. Ox overhit the ball, realised he won’t reach it, but still went into the challenge needlessly. Bad decision-making all over again.
2. We played him over even for the beginning of the 2nd half, even if it was obvious he is injured. We did it with Cazorla, Özil, etc before.
These injuries are unfortunately not due to bad luck anymore.
Get fit soon Ox, i want to see you help us win the league
I know he divides opinion, but this injury has to be seen as bad luck and not the result of a poor choice by Chamberlain. Mascherano’s challenge was reckless and warranted a booking. Had it been a Barcelona player on the receiving end of that challenge, there would have been a card for the defender.
No matter how you look at it Mascherano was first on the ball and The Ox just ran into him. Mascherano is an ugly cheater but he honestly didn’t do anything wrong in that situation.
Are you serious? It was Chamberlain that caused the collision not Maschereno. He left his boot in because he was pissed off that he overran the ball and he clearly fouls Maschereno.
Never a foul. If anything Chamberlain should have been booked for lunging into Masch when he knew he was never going to get it.
This one is not unlucky at all. It’s 100% down to Chamberlain clumsily losing the ball and then compounding the error by flying into a challenge he was always going to come off worse on.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/12170683/Arsenal-0-Barcelona-2-Gunners-lack-the-majesty-to-engage-in-a-straight-talent-contest-with-MSN.html
Why do English journalists always compare every great player out there with some English player. No disrespect but is there really a time in history when English players were the best in the world? Mr. History seems to think they have always been second rate, not mediocre, but never in the top echelon. Comparing MSN to Law, Best and Chalton is off the mark. This is simply the best strike force in history. And no English metaphor is good enough to express it. Just look at the numbers.
Most of these ‘journalists’, and I use the term in its broadest sense, feed into the illusion that England was once, and may still be, a footballing powerhouse. In my opinion they never were, not even when they won the World Cup in 1966: an alignment of the stars as shown by their failure to achieve anything significant thereafter.
Most ‘legends’ of the game in yesteryear would be merely good players nowadays; so much has the level, fitness and competition risen.
At the start of the season I thought this will be the season for Jack and the Ox. Hard to believe that Jack hasn’t played a minute and Ox is struggling with injuries and form. Really a shame. Both are such talented boys.
I’m hoping iwobi will get his chance!! he is a big potential, very smart player who is not based only on quickness. has good vision and uses his body really good. i really like him. nevertheless all the best to ox!! we must support all our players!!!
Ox is still young so he might improve but his decision making is awful. Same with a lot of our players. His decision to chase a lost ball caused his injury. Our players are skillful but not a very intelligent bunch. I think the real difference between our current players and the invincibles for example isn’t their technique it’s their footballing brains. Knowing when & where to pass, when to shoot, when to press, when to defend, etc. Our build up play is slow & our finishing is woeful. Even mediocre teams are finding it easy to defend against us.… Read more »
The younger players seem to be trying too hard and we have a few of them. The Ox seems to regularly mis-control the ball but it usually looks like he’s concentrating on where he can pass the ball next rather than actually thinking about what he’s doing in that moment.
The invincibles was a more experienced set of players. These guys could (COULD!, rather than ‘will) get to that level but as you say, they certainly aren’t anywhere near that now.
You’re right the invincibles were more experienced but they were also more intelligent. Only santi & ozil have the required intelligence going forward & cech, kos & monreal have the required intelligence at the back. Not saying get rid of ox, bellerin, jack, Gabriel, welbz, coq, chambers, etc but they are still raw & need to be back up players at this stage of their careers if we’re serious about competing for champs league. Giroud, theo, mert, campbell, arteta, flamini are not good enough & should be let go. For the first time under wenger our defence is better than… Read more »
Yeah and we play a mediocre team Sunday!!! Just hope we get in gear and give them the hammering they deserve!!!
I used to visit this site as it was the only place for reasoned debate and some resemblance of sensible thinking. Now the comments section is like the Daily Mail’s. Fan’s lining up to have a dig at our players at the first hint of poor form. It’s embarrassing and a sad indictment of what football is these days. 20 years ago if we were challenging for league and cup our fans would be buzzing. I hate what it’s become.
Well the British core has been a disappointment so far….I know it’s too early to write them off and all, but someone like Theo should be sold. I had high hopes for him just 2 seasons ago, but he has been a disappointment.
Wenger’s undying loyalty has been both a blessing and a curse.
Ox needs to take the time out and analyze his game.
How can people claim that the Ox’s injury was his “own fault”, it’s just ridiculous. Similar claims with regards to Wilshere being the cause of his own injuries and that he has to change his style of play. Admittedly this is slightly different, it was a heavy touch, saw Mascherano coming for the tackle and wanted to beat him. He wasn’t skateboarding blindfolded against traffic on Holloway Road, he was clattered in a 50-50 challenge and was injured as a result. It’s easy to say he should have pulled out of the tackle but if I was in Alex’s position,… Read more »
Another useless overrated player like Walcott and Wilshere (because they’re English). Just sell those 3 and get 1 or 2 really top players. We are going nowhere with these 3.
It’s ok Matt, you guys have Harry Kane, Dele Alli. Go troll there
Have to agree, no point having world class players like Ozil if we’re gonna settler for mediocrity at other criticial parts of the field. Stop selling this potentional nonsense, there has to be a timeframe. This sounds crude, but injuries at the right time to right players have save the Arses season more than once.
You sad little xenophobic prick. You support an English club mate.
Mate, please see the comment policy – http://news.arseblog.com/comment-policy/
Leave out the name calling, thanks.
Is it ok to call someone useless because of their nationality?
I remember James Mcnicholas, arseblog’s bff, wrote “what a relief” when Ospina got injured before the FA cup game against Sunderland. Now I say the same “what a relief” the ever frustrating OX won’t be part of the team for a time. Now see how many thumbs down I’ll get because I dare to say something about one of the frustrating British bunch. Campbell with much less playing time has done far much more better than Chamberlain and for some reason he finds himself rooted to the bench for no justifiable reason. Take Walcott, Ox, and Wilshere’s time with the… Read more »
Seriously what the fuck are you on about? You’re relieved he’s injured? I hope you play football, and I hope karma is watching.
Mate, yes I am relieved. Relieved because a more deserving player will he his chance. You are probably one of the ones that still believe that Walcott, Ox and Wilshere will take this club forward—delusional.
So I agree with Mike. It’s time to leave sentiment to the side and focus on bringing players that will not be so complacent and actually have a fire in their bellys, unlike those three.
By a few weeks he means a few months.
Rinse repeat all over again. Guys that cant keep the ball and aren’t technically sound get hurt like this in the bpl.
Don’t know if I’m going out on a limb here, but maybe it has something to do with the club not having a fully up-to-date fitness centre yet? Would the medical staff not having daily contact with new technology limit their ability to properly treat/diagnose an injury?
The so called British core is proving again to be just a core of injury prone players, most of them not having the brain to avoid a unnecessary tackle (Wilshire, Ox and sometimes Gibbs) or to do anything else good than to run like a chicken (Walcott). All of them on big wages.
I know that this is not Football Manager but, sometimes it’s better to cut the losses.
A new winger and centre forward would be what we need to complete the jigsaw for next season. IMHO.
Flamini and Sanogo could go to make room?