Aaron Ramsey will not be available until early January due to a hamstring injury, Arsene Wenger has confirmed.
The Arsenal midfielder was initially diagnosed with what Wenger termed a “small” hamstring injury but is now likely to face a race to be fit for the visit of Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on January 3.
“Ramsey was out running [on Monday] but he will not be back in the next 10 days,” Wenger said.
“For him, the beginning of January is more likely.”
The injury comes as a cruel blow for the 26-year-old, who has suffered a string of muscular injuries over recent years. Ramsey told Standard Sport earlier this month that he was optimistic that he was approaching optimum condition.
“I have adapted my body to the load of playing in the Premier League and am building up that fitness gradually,” he said.
“I’ve felt really good so far and hopefully that’ll continue for a long time now.”
Meanwhile Wenger will be without Shkodran Mustafi for Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie with West Ham as he steps up his recovery from a thigh injury. The German centre-back is available but will be held in reserve for the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates on Friday.
Theo Walcott will start after recovering from a groin injury.
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