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Aaron Ramsey will find out on Thursday how long he is going to be out of action after suffering his third hamstring injury of a difficult season on Tuesday night.
At the very least, Ramsey will miss three weeks, which would mean five games, including the Champions League last 16 first-leg tie against Monaco on 25 February. The two hamstring injuries he has already suffered this season ruled him out for three and six weeks.
Ramsey lasted just nine minutes of Arsenal’s Premier League win over Leicester City on Tuesday, before pulling up and being replaced by Mathieu Flamini. Wenger will have to choose between Flamini and Tomas Rosicky for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Middlesbrough, with fellow central midfielders Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere also still out injured.
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Wenger admitted on Tuesday night that the repetition of Ramsey’s injury was a concern, as it could become a mental problem for the young midfielder.
“I cannot say it’s not a worry because, after a while, the player cannot play with a free mind,” Wenger said. “He’s not overplayed. I don’t know why this is.”
At his pre-match press conference on Monday morning, Wenger had warned of the dangers of muscle injuries at this stage of the season.
“If you have a muscular injury and a guy has a setback, you say ‘bye-bye’ as the season is over, as it is six weeks out,” he said. “By the time you come back to your full level it is April.”
There was more positive news, though, regarding Alexis Sanchez. The striker made his Arsenal return on Tuesday after a two-week rest but had to be substituted in the second half after a robust tackle by Matthew Upson. Assessments have revealed no real damage, though, and Sanchez will be available to face Middlesbrough.
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