ARSENAL have been hit by a major injury blow after scans revealed Calum Chambers may have suffered a serious knee injury.
Chambers has been the most consistent performer in defence for the Gunners this season and is a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
The England defender limped out of Arsenal’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend after appearing to hurt his knee.
Chambers initially hoped he had only tweaked the ligaments and would only be a short term absentee going into the new year.
But having sent the 24-year-old for a series of scans, the Mirror say the initial prognosis was more hopeful than it should have been.
Gunners medical staff now fear Chambers has suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury which would mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
They are still waiting to confirm the full extent of the damage, but the news will be a major blow both to Chambers and to Arteta.
After loan spells at Fulham and Middlesbrough, the former Southampton defender is finally proving himself to be a regular first team player at the Emirates.
Arteta said last week that he had been impressed with the way Chambers had played this season and viewed him as a centre-back rather than as full-back where has has sometimes been forced to play.
To lose him just two games into his managerial reign leaves the Spaniard short of options at the back going forward.
Chambers had become an automatic choice, but now Arsenal face having to go into January with David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis as options.
Konstantinos Mavropanas is another option but he has been limited by injuries this season and cannot always be relied upon fitness wise.
