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Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Francis Coquelin’s injury is as bad as the club initially feared, leaving the French midfielder out for an extended period.
After suffering a ligament injury in the weekend’s defeat to West Brom, Coquelin was originally stated to be out for two months but the full severity of the injury was to be determined from a scan during the week.
Following Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb, Wenger confirmed that Coquelin would be sidelined for longer and would be out until mid-February.
“It is what we feared. Let’s be realistic – it will be 10 or 12 weeks. He doesn’t need surgery but it will be a minimum of 12 weeks.”
The lack of surgery is a major boost for the player’s recovery but Arsenal will have to prepare for up to three months without a crucial member of their squad, heading into a busy period of the season and a crunch-tie against Olympiakos in the Champions League.
Fortunately there is some good news on the injury front, as Wenger also confirmed last night that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott would be returning imminently; with the pair set to be available for the clash against Olympiakos on December 9th.
