Source: Daily_Mail
Walcott adds to Wenger's woes as crock Arsenal winger misses Stoke tie
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's problems this week have mounted with the news England winger Theo Walcott has picked up a hamstring injury and will miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash against Stoke. [LNB]Walcott, 20, played the second half of the 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday, with Gunners manager Wenger then selecting his fringe players for the Carling Cup loss to Manchester City. [LNB] The hamstring complaint is described by Arsenal as 'short term', and Walcott will be desperate to return as soon as possible as he is yet to complete a match this season after shoulder and knee problems. [LNB] Hampered: Walcott has had a frustrating season with injuries[LNB]Wenger also has Alex Song suspended for the Stoke game at the Emirates Stadium but right-back Bacary Sagna has recovered from his ankle injury. [LNB]'We had Sagna out injured but, normally, he will be available,' said Wenger. 'However, Theo Walcott will not be available. He has a hamstring injury. [LNB]'As for the other players we had injured, the long-term ones I do not even speak about. But the players who looked to be shorter - like (Gael) Clichy, (Abou) Diaby and (Nicklas) Bendtner - will not be available. And, of course, Song is suspended for the weekend.'[LNB] [LNB] Walcott's absence denies Wenger another option for the central striker role following Robin van Persie's ankle injury, which will rule out the Holland forward for five months.[LNB]Eduardo and Carlos Vela shared the duties during the Chelsea reverse. [LNB] Wenger has not spoken to Van Persie yet but has positive news following his surgery and left-back Kieran Gibbs' recovery from a foot operation. [LNB]'Kieran is doing very well,' said Wenger. 'I had him on the phone and it looked to be completely fine. [LNB]'I have not talked to Robin yet but there again the news I got from the surgery was it went very, very well. There was a lot of disturbance on our side recently [about his injury] but the surgery went well.'[LNB] Didier Drogba dismisses talk Chelsea and Manchester United are the only two Premier League title contendersVIDEO SPECIAL: Arsene Wenger's pitch battles with Jol, Mourinho, Ferguson, Pardew, O'Neill and Big SamKeen admirer Ancelotti ready to rival Arsenal for £18m Inter wonderkid BalotelliFurious Wenger snubs Hughes after his men are dumped out of Carling CupWenger stands by his decision to field young Gunners in defeat to Man CityARSENAL FC
