Arsene Wenger is hopeful that Aaron Ramsey will be back within a month to play a role in Arsenal's hunt for trophies.
The midfielder managed just 19 minutes of a substitute appearance in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Hull in the FA Cup fifth round replay before limping off with a thigh injury.
It had been reported earlier this week that Ramsey could miss six weeks of action and may even find his participation in Euro 2016 under threat, however Wenger expects the player, one of three to go off injured in Tuesday’s game, to return sooner.
Wenger did, however, admit that he had expected Ramsey to be back in time for Sunday’s FA Cup tie at home to Watford before scans revealed the full extent of the thigh muscle damage
“I don't think that he will miss the remainder of the season,” Wenger confirmed. “At the moment his clinical signs are quite positive, at the start I would say four weeks.
“It's a bit worse than I thought at first. Usually when a player gets injured he stops, I thought it was just a precaution and he would be available for Sunday.”
In the immediate aftermath of victory over Hull Arsenal had been concerned that they faced yet another injury crisis. Gabriel, Per Mertesacker and Ramsey were all substituted whilst substitute Nacho Monreal picked up a knock in the victory.
Those fears have receded in the following days, with both central defenders back in contention for the visit of Quique Sanchez Flores’ side. They are likely to start as Laurent Koscielny has still not recovered from the calf injury that ruled him out of last week’s loss to Swansea.
Every Arsenal injury
Discussing his team for the quarter final Wenger added: “From the Hull game we lost Ramsey, Gabriel came off injured, Mertesacker injured. They should be available.
“Koscielny is not far, will I risk him? I don't know, I haven't made a decision.
“Laurent's got to join in normal training tomorrow and then we'll think. I'll think after advice from the medical team. If he's available I'll consider playing him.”
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Ramsey’s absence is likely to see Mohamed Elneny remain in Arsenal’s deep-lying midfield duo, a position he fulfilled with some aplomb in last week’s draw with Tottenham.
The January signing from Basel, who made his top flight debut in the north London derby, should see further action in the weeks ahead as none of Wenger’s most likely alternatives, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Ramsey, will be available for at least another fortnight.
“Elneny looks like he's ready to play,” he said. “I consider every formula that is possible to give us a balance.
“At the moment I think Elneny can cope in the centre, we have Flamini and Coquelin who can cope.”
