Injured Ox faces Euros heartache
ALEX Oxlade-Chamberlain fears he is facing another lengthy spell out after suffering a double injury blow against Barcelona. The Arsenal midfielder now faces a struggle to prove his fitness in time for England’s Euro 2016 campaign.
Oxlade- Chamberlain was left with ligament damage in his right knee after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat.
The Arsenal winger was hurt as he raced towards the Barca penalty area. Javier Mascherano intercepted and reached the ball a split- second ahead of OxladeChamberlain, resulting in a high- speed collision between the pair.
The Arsenal player limped through the rest of the half and even came out for the second period, before quickly being withdrawn when it became clear he could not run off the injury.
Now it appears Oxlade-Chamberlain also hurt an ankle in the challenge and left the ground on crutches, with his right leg heavily strapped.
The 22-year-old will have a scan today but there are concerns he could miss the last three months of the season.
He is certainly out of Sunday’s visit to Manchester United, leaving manager Arsene Wenger with the option of starting Danny Welbeck, Joel Campbell or Theo Walcott instead.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is also doubtful for England’s friendlies against Germany and Holland next month.
If Arsenal fears are realised, OxladeChamberlain will have little time to prove his fitness for Euro 2016 this summer. Missing out would be another huge blow after the winger sat out the last World Cup with an injured right knee.
Losing Oxlade-Chamberlain is bad news for Wenger. Arsenal’s Champions League prospects are bleak but they are still challenging for the Premier League and FA Cup and Oxlade-Chamberlain had been expected to play a key role.
The former Southampton trainee is set to become the subject of interest from rival clubs this summer as he enters the final two years of his contract. Arsenal are preparing to open talks over a new deal and are confident of coming to an agreement.
Mathieu Flamini is one Arsenal player almost certain to leave after learning he will not be offered a new deal.
Flamini, 31, wants to stay and hoped to be given a new 12-month contract. However, the club have not opened discussions and the former AC Milan midfielder is set to move on a free transfer.