Arsenal injury woes lead Arsene Wenger to recall Francis Coquelin from Charlton Athletic loan

Arsenal have recalled midfielder Francis Coquelin from his loan spell at Charlton Athletic, the Championship club have confirmed.

Coquelin, 23, made his move across London in early November, signing a month-long loan deal with the Addicks, which was extended to December 30.

But with the Gunners' injury woes showing little sign of abating, manager Arsene Wenger has opted to recall the versatile midfielder ahead of the busy Christmas period, Charlton confirmed through their official Twitter account.

Coquelin, who spent last season on loan in the Bundesliga with Freiburg, has made 43 appearances for the Gunners since making his debut for the club in 2008.

Primarily a defensive midfielder, he started and completed Charlton's last three games. His sole appearance for the Gunners this season came in their 2-1 defeat to Southampton in the club's Capital One Cup match, while featuring as an unused substitution in eight other games.

Arsenal are beset by injuries heading into the busy festive period that sees the club play four games in the space of 12 days between 21 December and 1 January.

Ahead of the visit of Newcastle United on Saturday 13 December, Wenger has just one fit centre-half at his disposal in Per Mertesacker, whose own performances have been criticised this season.

Laurent Koscielny, whose season has been disrupted by an Achilles problem, is unavailable after suffering a calf problem, with makeshift centre-half Nacho Monreal also ruled out. Calum Chambers is another absentee after picking up his second suspension of the season.

Further up the field, Mikel Arteta is also unavailable, a development that may have prompted Coqeulin's recall, with Mathieu Flamini the club's only other option in a holding midfield role as Abou Diaby is a long-term victim to injury.

Wenger has previously indicated he will seek to add reinforcements to his squad during the January transfer window but suggested on Friday 12 December that he will assess his options when injuries to his squad clear up.