Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rules Olivier Giroud out for three weeks and gives Nacho Monreal fitness update
Gunners boss says striker won't play until at least mid-January while defender Monreal is also facing two weeks on the sidelines after suffering injury against Liverpool
ARSENE WENGER has revealed striker Olivier Giroud is facing at least three weeks out through injury.
Arsenal boss Wenger says his French striker will not be available until at least the middle of January after suffering a hamstring injury just before Christmas.
And the Gunners now face more fitness worries surrounding defender Nacho Monreal who Wenger admits will not be available until early in the New Year.
Monreal hobbled off during the 3-3 draw against Liverpool last week, forcing a big re-shuffle to the Arsenal defence.
And now the Spanish international is expected to be out until mid-January leaving Wenger having to decide whether he can play a three-man defence with the players available.
Monreal will definitely miss the next three Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, West Brom and the crucial clash with Chelsea.
And he is unlikely to be back in time to play Nottingham Forest on January 7.
That means he is facing a race to be back to full fitness in time for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg clash with Chelsea on January 10.
The prognosis for striker Giroud is worse still, with the 31-year-old already ruled out of the next six league and cup matches.
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He pulled up with the injury in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham.
And the earliest Wenger now hopes to have his forward back available for selection will be the home game against Palace on January 20.
It means Wenger's attacking options will be stretched to the limit at a time when the fixture list is at its most congested.
Alaxandre Lacazette is now the only genuine out-and-out striker left fit in his squad and Wenger will be reluctant to run him into the ground.
That means he could turn to Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez or Theo Walcott to lead the line over the next few weeks as he attempts to rotate his squad.
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Arsenal will also have to do without midfielder Aaron Ramsey for at least the next two games.
Ramsey suffered a hamstring injury in with 1-1 draw at Southampton earlier this month and is still not back in training.
His absence is likely to mean Jack Wilshere continues in the centre of midfield alongside Granit Xhaka as he looks to do enough to secure a new contract at the Emirates.