Arsenal depleted by injuries

Less than three months into the season, Arsene Wenger is already grappling with an injury-depleted Arsenal squad after signing no outfield players in the transfer window.

Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week joined an injury list which includes Danny Welbeck (knee), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (knee), Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring).

In Tuesday's League Cup loss at Sheffield Wednesday, Oxlade-Chamberlain was taken off after five minutes with a hamstring problem and his replacement, Walcott, soon went off with a calf complaint.

"We hope they are light injuries, but they are out until after the international break," Wenger said.

That means they will be out for at least three weeks, missing today's trip to Swansea, the Champions League game at Bayern Munich on Wednesday and the north London derby against Tottenham.

Arsenal, though, is only being kept off the top of the standings on goal difference by Manchester City, which hosts Norwich today.