Ox has ‘serious’ injury after being ‘cut in two’

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be out for up to seven weeks after suffering injury against Barcelona.

The winger started in the 2-0 defeat to the Spanish and European champions on Tuesday, but was substituted after 50 minutes following a challenge from Javier Mascherano.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s game with Manchester United on Sunday, Wenger said that he felt Oxlade-Chamberlain was “cut in two” by the Argentinean defender, although the Frenchman stressed that he didn’t feel it was a malicious tackle.

“We lost Chamberlain on Tuesday,” said Wenger. “His injury is quite serious and keeps him out for several weeks. He’s seeing a knee specialist.”

The manager added that Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is reportedly unsure as to whether he will be fit to make England’s European Championship squad for the summer, could miss “two or three weeks”, or perhaps even “six or seven”. But definitely not four or five. Not a chance.