ARSENE WENGER HAS confirmed that midfielder Aaron Ramsey has suffered a further setback in his recovery from a thigh injury.
Wenger was speaking following Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s, in which his side were frustrated by Adam Lallana’s equaliser after Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had overturned Jose Fonte’s 21st-minute opener that gave the hosts an interval lead.
The visitors also saw Mathieu Flamini sent off for a two-footed tackle 10 minutes from time, as they missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League.
And with news that Ramsey could now extend his spell on the sidelines having already missed five weeks of action, it proved to be a bad night for Wenger.
“He had a setback yesterday in training,” said the Frenchman. “I hope it’s not for too long, but certainly not for Sunday’s game (at home to Crystal Palace).”
Initial reports say Ramsey’s injury is to a tendon under his thigh muscle with suggestions he could be out for a further four to six weeks.
That recovery timeframe would not only see the prolific midfielder miss crucial Premier League ties with Manchester United and Liverpool, but also and FA Cup tie against the latter and potentially both legs of their Champions League last 16 clash with Bayern Munich.
Reflecting on the game itself, Wenger was pleased to have left with a point following his side’s lacklustre first-half display.
“It’s not enough but considering the situation at half-time, we have to be content with it,” he added.
“They (title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea) have difficult games as well and we took at least a point.”
