Arsenal Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta Facing a Month Out
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta will miss the next month of the season with respective calf and hamstring injuries suffered against Tottenham Hotspur.
Both players were substituted in the north London derby with muscle strains and join a growing Gunners injury list that already included Mathieu Debuchy, Olivier Giroud and Abou Diaby – who is not yet ready for first-team activity.
However, ahead of the Champions League visit of Galatasaray on Wednesday 1 October, Arsenal have been handed a major boost with the news that the third injury victim from the 1-1 draw with Spurs, Jack Wilshere, is available despite going off with an ankle problem.
Wilshere played a full part in training at Arsenal's London Colney training ground on Tuesday 30 September and is seemingly available to figure in a wafer-thin midfield for the crucial European clash.
"He [Wilshere] is in the squad," Wenger told his pre-match press conference. "Will I start him or not? I don't know, we have to be cautious. I left Diaby out as he isn't ready.
"To be generous with time, four weeks [for Ramsey]. If all goes well, three. Arteta is the same, maybe a bit quicker."
From next week, Wenger will also be able to call upon Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry, after the Arsenal manager confirmed both players will resume full training following the Premier League trip to Chelsea.
Neither player has played this season due to separate knee injuries, with Walcott having been out since January after damaging his anterior cruciate ligaments in the FA Cup win over Tottenham.
"Walcott and Gnabry will be joining training next week," added Wenger.
Another positive for Arsenal ahead of a must-win group game against Galatasaray, which follows the defeat to Borussia Dortmund on matchday one, is news that striker Giroud will sign a new deal with the club.
Giroud's current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2015/16 season but the France international is close to agreeing a two-year extension.
"It is done, we will announce it when it is completely finished," explained Wenger. "We want stability and want to keep the core of our team together. Giroud is an important player here."
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