Arsenal injury news: Santi Cazorla out for the season

Arsenal injury news: Aaron Ramsey set to miss six weeks

10 March

Arsenal could be without midfielder Aaron Ramsey for six weeks after he limped out of the FA Cup clash with Hull on Tuesday night.

Ramsey (pictured above) is the most serious casualty out of four players who picked up injuries during the match.

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The club are awaiting test results but the Daily Telegraph says there is concern the suspected thigh tear could result in the player missing most of the Premier League run in.

"He is already almost certain to miss the rest of this month, including two matches for Wales and Arsenal's FA cup quarter-final with Watford and Champions League tie in Barcelona," says the paper.

Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Nacho Monreal were also hurt on Tuesday, but Ramsey is the biggest concern as manager Arsene Wenger is already missing five other midfielders, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta all out injured.

Ramsey's injury "leaves [Wenger] extremely reliant on Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny during what has been the most congested period of the season", adds the Telegraph.

There is better news on Tuesday's other casualties, according to The Times, and both Mertesacker and Gabriel could be fit for this weekend's FC Cup quarter final against Watford.

As for Arsenal's other absentees, the Daily Mirror predicts a return date of 2 April for Wilshere and Cazorla and goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is recovering from a calf strain. Oxlade-Chamberlain is not due back until 24 April.

Arsenal injury news: Cech and Koscielny to miss Spurs match

3 March

If anything sums up Arsenal's misfortunes over the past week or so it is the news that goalkeeper Petr Cech will miss the crucial north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after pulling a calf muscle after going forward for a corner.

The keeper, who was at fault for Swansea City's second goal in Wednesday's disastrous defeat at the Emirates, rushed upfield in search of an equaliser when the Gunners won a corner in the final seconds of the match. But as the ball was cleared, he pulled up with a calf problem.

After the game, an ashen-faced Arsene Wenger confirmed Cech would be out for the match against Spurs and had been suffering with a groin problem even before his charge upfield.

"Cech had a little groin problem before the game and I think he struggled a bit," said Wenger. "I don’t know how bad it is. He will not play on Saturday."

He added that defender Laurent Koscielny – an unexpected omission from last night's team - would also be missing on Saturday. He, too, has a calf problem.

The news is a "a further blow to Gunners fans who have seen their team falter in the title race after successive losses to Manchester United and Swansea", notes Sky Sports. "David Ospina will deputise in goals for Cech while Gabriel Paulista is likely to continue alongside Per Mertesacker at the heart of the Arsenal defence."

Saturday's match is being billed as the biggest north London derby for a generation. Victory for Spurs would put them six points clear of Arsenal and end their title hopes for another year.

Arsenal's latest injury news comes after it emerged Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all in danger of missing the title run-in, which could become a fight for Champions League football.

Arsenal injury news: Cazorla and Wilshere out for the season?

02 March

A terrible week for Arsenal has been capped by some bad news on the injury front, as manager Arsene Wenger revealed that both Santi Cazorla (pictured above) and Jack Wilshere were still some way from a return to action.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already in danger of missing the Premier League run-in, there are now doubts about whether midfield colleagues will be able to play a meaningful part in the Gunners' title push, reports Metro.

Cazorla, who ruptured knee ligaments in November, had been pencilled in for a return to action this month, with hopes that he could feature in the Champions League clash against Barcelona on 16 March.

But when asked about his recovery, "Wenger painted a bleaker picture and he dodged the question of whether Cazorla was now looking at a return date in April," says The Guardian.

"Santi is not doing too well," the manager said. "He has some Achilles problems that hold him back."

Cazorla's return date now depends on how he responds to treatment. He is unable to take part in impact training, admitted Wenger.

When talk turned to Wilshere, Wenger "seemed to contradict" an earlier update that had put him close to Danny Welbeck in his recovery, adds The Guardian.

"Jack is doing quite well but has still not been outside yet, running,” Wenger said. He added the player was due to start outdoor training this week, but would be out for another three to four weeks.

That puts Wilshere on track to return before Oxlade-Chamberlain, who picked up a knee injury against Barcelona last month which will keep him out for six to eight weeks.

Arsenal injury news: Welbeck 'fit, Cazorla ready in weeks

12 February

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is finally fit after ten months out with knee problems, but he is unlikely to feature in Sunday's Premier League showdown with title-rivals Leicester City.

Instead, the former Manchester United player is expected to make his comeback against Hull in the FA Cup a week later and will be in contention for a place against Barcelona in the Champions League the following week.

Welbeck came through an under-21 match last week and is "very close" to a first team recall, said manager Arsene Wenger. "Fitness-wise, he is there; it is just competition he misses. It is a bit early for him, maybe, but he is now back to full power in training."

However, Wenger's cautious words did not stop the Daily Star predicting the player could return against Leicester and the tabloid names him in its provisional Arsenal squad.

The news on Welbeck may be positive, says the Daily Telegraph, but "of arguably even greater significance for Arsenal's Premier League title hopes is that Santi Cazorla is now back running and hoping to return within weeks for the final run-in to the season".

The Spaniard has been out since November, since when "Arsenal have struggled to find the balance that they had earlier in the season when Cazorla was partnering Francis Coquelin in central midfield".

With Coquelin now back in the side and expected to make his first start for almost three months on Sunday, Cazorla's return is eagerly awaited by Gunners fans.

Also on the comeback trail is forgotten England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is at a similar stage in his recovery, adds the paper. Wenger has "personally reassured England manager Roy Hodgson that the midfielder should be ready this summer for Euro 2016", it says.

Whether or not Wilshere can force his way back into the Arsenal side, let alone the England one, remains to be seen.

Arsenal injury news: Wellbeck comeback, Coquelin returns

05 February

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will return to action today, after ten months out with a knee injury.

Although the former Manchester United star is some way off a first team return, he will turn out for the reserves in an Under-21 fixture against Brighton. If things go well, he should be in line for a senior comeback in three weeks.

"I believe he needs to play two or three games before thinking about coming back in the first team," said manager Arsene Wenger. "He hasn't played for ten months, basically, so we need to be a bit patient with him."

However, Arsenal have not scored for three matches and are looking for their first win in five games against Bournemouth. A bad result could see calls for the Gunners to speed up the striker's return.

However, Wenger has "dismissed suggestions that Arsenal fans should be hitting the panic button", says [1]ESPN. The manager said fans could take "a lot of encouragement" from recent performances, despite the lack of results.

Gunners fans will be boosted by the news that Francis Coquelin is likely to enjoy his first Premier League start for two months on Saturday. The defensive midfielder made his comeback against Barnsley in the FA Cup last week and came off the bench during the goalless draw with Southampton in midweek.

"Mathieu Flamini's place is under threat with Coquelin now pushing hard for a starting place," reports the London Evening Standard.

However, midfielder Tomas Rosicky may have played his last game for the London side after his injury jinx returned.

The 35-year-old Czech suffered "serious" damage to his thigh muscle against Burnley last weekend, during his first appearance for the Gunners in seven months. The club have now confirmed the injury is worse than was first thought.

"The good news is that apparently he will not need surgery, It's a partial rupture." said Wenger, but he also confirmed the player would be out for several months.

"Rosicky is out of contract at the end of the season and, with Arsenal highly unlikely to renew his deal, may have played his last game for the club," says Goal.com.

Arsenal injury news: Ozil and Sanchez ready for Chelsea

21 January

Arsene Wenger has given Arsenal fans a boost by confirming that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez should feature in the Premier League showdown with Chelsea on Sunday.

Ozil missed last weekend's stalemate at Stoke with a bruised toe, but will return to the starting line-up for Sunday's London derby. Sanchez is also expected to feature after finally overcoming a hamstring injury suffered two months ago at Norwich.

The Chilean is unlikely to play the whole game as Wenger is "anxious to avoid risking a relapse", says The Guardian, but "should play some part" at the Emirates.

The Gunners boss added that Sanchez had been given a clean bill of health after almost two months out, although he was lacking match fitness.

"To be clear on all the tests is one thing; to be clear after training is another," he said. "But the intensity of a big game you can never replicate in training."

There was even more good news for Arsenal as the manager revealed that two other key figures will soon return to the fold, although they will not be available for Chelsea.

Striker Danny Welbeck, who has been out for almost a year with a series of knee problems, is due back in full training on Monday, while Francis Coquelin has already returned to full training.

"The return of Coquelin is especially significant given the absence of a comparable defensive midfielder," says the Daily Telegraph.

Originally not due back until the spring, he is now a month ahead of schedule in what will go down as a rare victory for Arsenal's much-maligned team of physios.

Arsenal injury news: Sanchez and Ozil boost squad

19 January

With Arsenal top of the table and still fighting for silverware in the Champions League and FA Cup, an experienced Gunners fan with one eye on recent history could be forgiven for expecting the wheels to fall off the season at any moment. However, there has been an uncharacteristic glut of good news ahead of the weekend's showdown with Chelsea.

It appears manager Arsene Wenger was true to his word when he said the toe injury which kept midfielder Mesut Ozil out against Stoke was a minor one. The Daily Mail says the German playmaker is set to return this Sunday.

Also in line for a recall is forward Alexis Sanchez, sidelined since November with a hamstring problem. He is unlikely to start, but could make the bench.

"Arsenal struggled to a 0-0 draw away to Stoke without their two key attacking players, the first league match both had missed since Sanchez's arrival at the club," says the Evening Standard. But both are now expected to be fit for a "daunting run of fixtures with no room to drop points".

There is even more good news with long-term absentees Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere "all set to return to full training in the next month", adds the Mail.

Indeed, Rosicky is poised to play for the Arsenal under-21s this week, while Coquelin, Wilshere and Welbeck are all said to be running.

Arsenal injury news: Sanchez to miss Liverpool clash

09 January

Arsenal have been dealt a new injury blow after manager Arsene Wenger announced that talismanic forward Alexis Sanchez would not be fit for next week's Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

The Chilean has not played since picking up a hamstring injury against Norwich in November. Hopes for a quick return were dashed in December and Wenger indicated that he had earmarked the Liverpool game for the player's comeback.

Earlier this week, the Arsenal boss confirmed Sanchez was "not far away", but would not be available for the FA Cup tie with Sunderland on Saturday. He has now ruled him out of Wednesday's game against Liverpool as well, reports the Evening Standard.

"The Arsenal boss advised that Sanchez could return for the leaders' visit to the Britannia Stadium [to play Stoke] in nine days' time, but again lacked certainty when asked about the player's return," says the London newspaper.

But on what the Daily Mail calls a "better note for the Gunners", Wenger announced that midfielder Mikel Arteta is back in the squad for Saturday's game at the Emirates while forward Danny Welbeck, who has not played all season, is three to four weeks away from a return following knee surgery.

Arsenal injury news: Alexis Sanchez told to relax after setback

23 December

It's a good thing Mesut Ozil is in such good form as Arsenal will have to wait until the new year for the return of their other attacking talisman, Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean, out with a hamstring strain, was not missed when the Ozil-inspired Gunners beat Man City 2-1 on Monday night, but there were still groans after the game when it emerged that the winger was not ready for a return to action.

Wenger had planned to include Sanchez among his substitutes, reports the Daily Telegraph, but the player suffered what has been described as a "slight" setback in training on Saturday. Wenger has ruled him out until 10 January, which means he cannot return before the Gunners take on Liverpool on 13 January.

Even though things are rosy at the Emirates at the moment, Wenger is now facing "one of his toughest tests in man management", says the Daily Mirror, "keeping Alexis Sanchez under control".

The paper suggests that by naming a date before which Sanchez will not be allowed to play, Wenger is hoping to stop him pushing himself too hard and force him to take a breather. The Arsenal manager has "ordered Sanchez to recover fully, get treatment and come back stronger for Arsenal's end-of-season run-in".

The Gunners face Southampton, Bournemouth and Newcastle in the Premier League over Christmas, and Sunderland in the FA Cup. By the time that run of games comes to an end, long-term absentees Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck could also be close to a comeback.

Arsenal injury news: Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck set to return

16 December

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger faces a difficult decision ahead of the Gunners' top-of-the-table showdown with Manchester City next week, with Alexis Sanchez demanding a recall just three weeks after damaging his hamstring against Norwich.

Wenger was widely criticised for playing Sanchez in that game after he admitted that the Chilean had complained of tight hamstrings but had declared himself fit.

The Chilean has a ferocious work ethic and will be keen to get back in the action but Arsenal's track record of rehabilitating players after muscle injuries is poor, leaving Wenger with a tricky call.

"Sanchez is desperate to be involved in one of the biggest games of the season to date which could yet determine who tops the table at Christmas," reports the London Evening Standard. "It is believed that the first signs in training have been encouraging and Wenger may well find the temptation to play Sanchez too great if he insists he is ready."

The Standard also debunks reports that Gunners striker Danny Welbeck, who has not played since a knee injury in April, has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation.

The forward had an operation in September and is not due back until the new year.

"It had been suggested the 25-year-old would not be available until February at the earliest – placing his participation for England at Euro 2016 in doubt – but Welbeck remains on course to return to action next month," insists the paper.

Arsenal injury news: Santi Cazorla to miss three months; Sanchez three weeks

03 December

Arsenal's injury nightmare looks set to continue until well after Christmas, with Santi Cazorla the latest long-term casualty and Alexis Sanchez heading home to Chile in a bid to get fit for the festive season.

Spanish midfielder Cazorla was injured in the second half of the damaging 1-1 draw with Norwich but went on to play the full 90 minutes.

Afterwards, Wenger admitted that he had finished the game "on one leg" and it has now been confirmed that he will be joining the Gunners' other first-choice central midfielder Francis Coquelin in the knee clinic for three months with ligament damage.

The diagnosis has "dealt a massive blow" to Arsenal's title hopes, says the Daily Telegraph, although the returning Aaron Ramsey could replace Cazorla in the interim.

There is better news on Sanchez - but only marginally better. The Chilean has a hamstring problem but it is "not as serious as first feared", reports the Daily Mirror.

The upshot is that Sanchez will be allowed to return home to Chile for a week where he will work on his rehab with the national team's doctors.

"Wenger had always planned to give Sanchez a much-needed breather during this month. But his time off has been brought forward after this latest blow," explains the paper.

However, it is unclear when he will return. He only has an "outside chance" of making the critical clash with Man City and could have to wait until Boxing Day for a comeback.

The latest injuries leave Arsenal with at least ten players on the treatment table and a critical Champions League clash with Olympiakos on the horizon next week.

The players now expected to miss the showdown in Greece include Sanchez, Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck - while Theo Walcott is touch and go.

Of those players, only Arteta and Walcott are likely to be available for the Man City game in two-and-a-half weeks, when the chances are more players will have been hurt.

Arsenal injury news: Sanchez 'touch and go' for Man City

1 December

Arsenal will be without Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla for their must-win Champions League game with Olympiakos next week, it has been reported. The pair were injured against Norwich and both face a spell on the sidelines.

The biggest concern is Sanchez. "The club are hopeful that the Chile forward has pulled rather than torn his hamstring, meaning he is out for weeks rather than months," says The Times. The Gunners are waiting on scans to determine the extent of the injury so they can plan "a more detailed timetable for his recovery", says the paper.

The BBC says he will "be assessed over the next two days to gauge the severity of the injury".

After the clash with Olympiakos, Arsenal face Sunderland and Aston Villa, but Wenger will be "desperate" to have Sanchez back in time for Manchester City's visit to the Emirates on 21 December, says the Times. It is a game that could determine who is top of the table at Christmas. However, he faces a race against time for that game if the Daily Mirror is right. It says Sanchez will be out for three weeks.

Meanwhile, Metro says that Cazorla "may have ligament or nerve damage" after hurting his knee against Norwich.

There is better news on Laurent Koscielny, who should be fit for the weekend's game against Sunderland, while Theo Walcott could return to the side for the must-win game against Olympiakos.