Arsene Wenger rues Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain injuries but adds young players not ready for this level

Arsenal fall 3-0 at Championship Sheffield Wednesday

(2015 Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger was left counting the cost of Arsenal's League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were both injured in the first 20 minutes at Hillsborough.

The English pair will have scans on potential muscle injuries in the next day or two, the Gunners boss confirmed.

Wenger named a relatively strong starting XI for the game and added that he had to play a trio of youngsters despite them not being "ready to play at this level".

Arsenal were well beaten 3-0 by the Championship side, despite Wenger naming a side full of experienced players - Glen Kamara, Alex Iwobi and Ismael Bennacer were the trio of players making their debuts in the match.

"The occasion was too much for the young players," said Wenger. "They were not ready to play at this level, none of them. Two of the goals were from set-pieces. We were very naive. We had a lot of the ball but we didn't make a lot. We were too short in midfield.

"It was a bad night at the office for us. We lost the two players and after that were not good enough. We have two muscle injuries. I don't know how bad, we have to make a scan.

"I am concerned because we have a big game on Saturday at Swansea and the Champions League at Bayern Munich coming up, and already we are short. To lose two offensive players is damaging for us.

Wenger added that he couldn't turn to the experienced players he named on the bench, Gabriel Paulista or Nacho Monreal, because he couldn't afford to lose any more senior pros.

"Maybe [I brought] too many experience players played here. We lost two and once I lost them I didn't bring on others because we couldn't afford to lose more.'

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lasted just five minutes (Reuters)

The Gunners were not able to cope with the dynamic nature of the Owls' display and boss Carlos Carvalhal, who has overseen a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions, knew his side were too good on the night.

"I am very happy about the victory, I think we deserved it," he said. "Everything belongs to the players, they were fantastic, we put a plan together and they did it 100 per cent.

"I am very happy about the players and for the club, it is an important victory for the club. It was a full stadium, with a new generation of fans. We deserved what we got."

Additional reporting from PA