According to Metro, Arsenal could be left without their star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain until the beginning of next year, after reports emerging from the Gunners’ camp suggest his knee injury is not yet healing as expected by the medical staff, leaving the manager and coaches much to think about with a busy period approaching in the season. The Ox is not due to start even light training until the middle of next month so a February return even looks optimistic

There is no doubt about the fact that Arsenal have been the best team all round in the Barclays Premier League, consistently winning matches and ensuring they don’t drop point away in difficult fixtures. Even though Manchester United managed to beat the Gunners, the very fact that it still left them 5-points adrift of their rivals was testament to the kind of start Arsene Wenger has managed to produce for the club. The initial burst of performances from the Arsenal players is reaping them rewards now, when they can afford to drop a point or two.

The current international break will prove to be vital for the London based club, who marginally lost to United at Old Trafford courtesy of a goal from their former captain Robin van Persie. This break will give the players a chance to revitalize and reenergize before the busy Christmas period of the campaign kicks in. The winter period of each season can be one of the most challenging of the entire campaign, and with the frequency of games increasing as we approach the new year, clubs will have to plan how they place players for important games and balance the side for the other matches like the Champions League and the FA Cup. Here is where the squad players will come into action, and where players like Nicklas Bendtner will have to start matches to replace Olivier Giroud.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s style of play is perfectly suited to the current Arsenal setup, and the England international is recovering from the injury he sustained in the opening day defeat to Aston Villa. Wenger will be patient, as the youngster could have a big part to play in the second half of the season as he tries to regain fitness to help Arsenal’s push for the title and put himself firmly in the mind of Roy Hodgson for the World Cup in Brazil.