Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out for six to eight weeks, but doesn’t require surgery on the knee problem suffered against Barcelona a week ago.

The midfielder ran into a Javier Mascherano challenge in the first half of the Champions League clash and came out worse off, hobbling around before finally being substituted early in the second half.

In Tuesday’s press conference, Arsène Wenger gave an update on the severity of the injury.

Arsenal's English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain receives medical treatment during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 1st leg football match between Arsenal and Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 23, 2016. / AFP / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Arsenal will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain through this crucial period of the season. (JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)

“Six to eight weeks,” Wenger told reporters. “No surgery, we feared surgery at one stage – when we saw the MRI – but on that front it’s positive news.

“The next eight weeks, that means March, April he’ll be out.”

So, in the middle of a title race, Arsenal have lost another player for two months. You really have to question why he stayed on the pitch after half-time only to be substituted minutes later, it was clear he wasn’t ok.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s form has been poor all season but he had started to perform with a little more quality and Arsenal badly need as many players, especially in midfield, as possible. Hopefully the likes of Joel Campbell (again) and Alex Iwobi step up. Danny Welbeck’s return has been a blessing, but Arsenal will need a little more in order to stay in the hunt.