Arsenal's Francis Coquelin has been ruled out for four weeks, leaving them very short in central midfield.
It has this morning been confirmed by Arsene Wenger that Coquelin will be out for four weeks, giving the Arsenal manager a potential selection headache that could lead to some adverse results for the Gunners. He picked up the injury in the first half of Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Bournemouth and was replaced by Oxlaide-Chamberlain.
With Coquelin now out and Elneny at the African Cup of Nations, Wenger's preferred central midfield partnership this season has been broken up. That will mean Arsenal will be without that pair until February at the earliest. With February being a hugely important month for Arsenal including their Champions League last 16 tie with Bayern Munich, they will hoping for a return for the duo in time for that clash.
The obvious replacements over the next month will be Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey. How well those two will perform in the middle is up for debate though, with Ramsey preferring a role a bit further forward and doubts over the trust Wenger has in Xhaka and his disciplinary record.
With further injuries to Cazorla, Walcott and Ozil's illness there is a real short term problem for Arsenal. That could see them dip into the transfer market this January if they don't want to see their odds for the title slip any further from 14/1 and maintain their position in the Premier League's top four.
They've already completed a deal for 20 year-old left back Cohen Bramall from non-league Hednesford but it's further up the pitch that reinforcements could be needed.
