LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that captain Mikel Arteta and his midfield colleague Aaron Ramsey will miss the upcoming games against Galatasaray and Chelsea after picking up injuries in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
Wenger may also be without Jack Wilshere after he picked up a fresh ankle injury in the north London derby, leaving the Arsenal boss concerned by his latest injury crisis ahead of a vital few days in their season.
"I don't know for how long they will be out, but for the next week they will be out," confirmed Wenger of the injuries to Arteta and Ramsey, meaning they will miss the Champions League clash at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and next Sunday's vital trip to Stamford Bridge.
"Ramsey is a hamstring and Arteta is a calf. Wilshere is an ankle [problem]. Wilshere has rolled his ankle over and I don't understand why Ramsey has done his hamstring. I gave him a rest, so it is a surprise. He is usually a resistant boy. I don't know if Wilshere will be out for Chelsea, but the two others for sure.
"Suddenly we are short. We have lost three players today. Let's not forget, we already have two out long-term (Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud) and [Theo] Walcott. [Abou] Diaby is not ready and it starts to become a worry."
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Wenger criticised Tottenham for time wasting in the final stages of the game and suggested match officials should book players who halt the flow of the game, but his frustration was evident as two more points slipped away from his Arsenal side.
"It is a frustrating start to the season," he added. "The positive is we are unbeaten, the negative is we have lost some points. We have to keep that unbeaten record and at some stage, we will start winning."