Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed that while Aaron Ramsey has started training again, the Welsh midfielder is not going to be able to play for the Gunners for roughly a fortnight due to a hamstring injury, ruling him of the North Londoners’ plans till the New Year at least.

“Ramsey was out running (on Monday) but he will not be back in the next 10 days. For him, the beginning of January is more likely,” Wenger told the media at a press conference in London ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with West Ham United.

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Ramsey’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse possible time for the North Londoners for after Tuesday’s tie with the Hammers, they host a resurgent Liverpool in a Premier League clash on Friday night.

Including the aforementioned two ties, Arsenal play a total of four games between now and the end of 2017, with away trips to Crystal Palace (December 28) and West Bromwich Albion (December 31) coming up after the Liverpool clash.

Arsenal’s first game of 2018 is a massive one, for they welcome London rivals Chelsea on January 3 before travelling to Championship side Nottingham Forest for a FA Cup tie four days later.

Whether or not Ramsey, who had been in sparkling form of late, can feature against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest remains to be seen and his absence in midfield could prove telling as the 26-year-old has scored three times and garnered six assists (Premier League only) this season already.

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The Welshman played the full 90 minutes of his side’s 1-1 draw on December 10 despite clearly struggling with a hamstring during the latter stages but could not be replaced as Wenger had exhausted his three substitutions.

And while Ramsey was ruled out of Arsenal’s remaining fixtures in December, there was some good news for the Gunners faithful as Wenger revealed central defender Shkodran Mustafi is back in full training.

“Shkodran is back again. I will not use him on Tuesday but he’s available again, Wenger stated as he added on the topic of Theo Walcott, “Theo is 100 per cent, he will play on Tuesday”.