Danny Welbeck leads a quartet of Arsenal players ruled out until after the forthcoming international break, Arsene Wenger today confirmed.
Reserve goalkeeper David Ospina and Calum Chambers also face extended periods on the sidelines whilst there has been no improvement in Shkodran Mustafi’s condition.
Germany international Mustafi limped out of a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a hamstring injury and the north London derby on November 18 remains the earliest date for his possible return.
Welbeck will also hope to feature against Tottenham at the Emirates having limped out of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Watford, his first game back since overcoming a groin injury.
“Welbeck is out. He has a groin problem, I think it will be two to three weeks before he is back. He will not be back before the international break.
“Mustafi will not be back before the break, and Ospina as well. Ospina is not very bad, he has a grade one [groin problem] so it’s just a couple of weeks. Mustafi is a bit worse than Ospina.
“Calum Chambers as well will be back after the break, and everybody else is alright.”
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Wenger did however confirm that Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey will return to the Premier League squad having missed Saturday’s match.
Laurent Koscielny had emerged as a fitness doubt following that game, which he limped out of in the final minutes, but only suffered cramp rather than the Achilles injury that had initially been feared.
