Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Arsene Wenger looks on as midfielder completes 62 minutes for Arsenal Under-21s in his recovery from a knee injury

England international has briefly appeared in the Gunners' last two matches

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain competes for the ball with Liverpool's Joao Teixeiria (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was in attendance to watch Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain complete 62 minutes for Arsenal's Under-21 team in their 4-2 defeat by Liverpool at the club's London Colney training ground this afternoon, as the midfielder continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Benik Afobe and Isaac Hayden scored for Arsenal, while the visitors netted thanks to Michael Ngoo's double, plus strikes from Brad Smith and Kris Petersen.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has come on as a substitute for the final four minutes in each of the Gunners' last two Premier League matches, the 2-1 win at Aston Villa last Monday, and the 2-0 home win over Fulham at the weekend, and will be pleased to have got an hour under his belt as the business end of the season approaches for the league leaders.

The 20-year-old damaged knee ligaments on the opening day of the season in the 3-1 home loss against Aston Villa back in August, and his return to first-team action has come at a crucial time for both Arsenal and England, with team-mate Theo Walcott sidelined for the remainder of the season and the World Cup after sustaining a knee injury in the club's 2-0 FA Cup win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.