Arsenal injury news: Arsene Wenger sweating over the fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of Liverpool clash

Arsenal face yet another anxious wait after midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off during the Gunners' 4-1 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger is already facing a major injury crisis ahead of the busy festive period when the fixtures come thick and fast, and will be hoping that the former Southampton midfielder will be fit for Arsenal's visit to Anfield next week.

The north London side are facing a major shortage in midfield, with Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta ruled out till the New Year and if Oxlade-Chamberlain joins the list, it will leave Wenger with no option but to turn to academy players for one of the most crucial parts of the season.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are also without first-choice defender Laurent Koscielny and backup defender Nacho Monreal, which saw Wenger turn to right-back Mathieu Debuchy to fill in at centre-back for the visit of the Magpies.

The French manager has revealed that he took a gamble with Chamberlain, and is hoping that it is a minor injury that he can shake off before Sunday's trip to Merseyside.

"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," Wenger said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"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," the Frenchman added.

However, there is one positive amid all the injury gloom, as Theo Walcott has stepped up his recovery and is hoping to be fit for the clash against Liverpool on Sunday.