Arsenal are looking to receive some positive injury news with the club hopeful that winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will return for their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace in the new year.
The England international suffered a muscular injury just minutes after coming on as a substitute for the Gunners in their 2-1 loss to rivals Manchester City at the Etihad last time out in the league, and was swiftly taken off so to take no risks.
And according to theEvening Standard, boss Arsene Wenger is keen to get the 23-year-old back involved in top flight action over the festive period, but expects the attacker to make his return to the starting XI for the club's January 1st home game against currently manageress Palace.
Should he come out of that clash at the Emirates Stadium without an further injury worries, Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fully fit to be involved in the club's next Premier League game just three days later away to Eddie Howe's Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Oxlade-Chamberlain [hamstring] is ruled out "but it's a question of days, rather than weeks." Targeting a return against Crystal Palace #AFC
The Southampton academy productwas in good form prior to his injury, with six goals and five assists to his name in all competitions, and Wenger will be hopeful for the player to only be on the sidelines for a short amount of time in a crucial part of his team's season after a poor run as of late.
The Gunners have lost their last two league matches following consecutive away losses to Everton and Pep Guardiola's City, and will look to get their title chase back on track, trailing Antonio Conte's Chelsea outfit by nine points right now.