Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is injures once again, and this time it could force him to miss the FA Cup final after the Arsenal midfielder picked up a hamstring injury in training while making a comeback from his recent groin problem.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted Oxlade-Chamberlain is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the Wembley showpiece with Aston Villa on May 30.
Wenger said: “He has done his hamstring in training. Look, he will not play next week and after, there’s only one week to go for the cup final. I think he will be short but you never know.
“If he can be available for West Brom, maybe that’s the earliest he could be. It’s difficult to predict today.”
Arsenal’s former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is also battling to be fit for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Wenger said: “He’s short a fraction but is not far away.”
Wenger also tried to play down Arsenal interest in signing Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, 32, who is likely to be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Wenger insisted they do not need another keeper despite Wojciech Szczesny losing his place and David Ospina dropping a clanger against Swansea on Monday. Emiliano Martinez is their third choice.
When asked if Wenger would like to sign Cech, the Frenchman added:
“I don’t deal with the ‘if’. We have world-class goalkeepers, we’ve got three.”
Three world class goalkeepers Arsene? While Ospina has been impressive this season I don’t think event most ardent fan would call hum world class. As for Szczesny, now your just having a laugh!
