have suffered an injury blow as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be fit to face Schalke in midweek, according to The Daily Mail.

The England international hobbled off in the Gunners' 1-0 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday, only moments after coming on as a substitute.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been diagnosed with a hip injury, and is believed to have been in a lot of pain and discomfort throughout the weekend.

Emirates Stadium medical staff will assess the attacker's physical condition on Monday, but is feared that he could be unavailable for the clash with the German side and potentially even next weekend's Premier League fixture with QPR.

Arsene Wenger has also admitted that he is slightly concerned with the growing gap between his team and the league's leaders.

Arsenal are ten points behind leaders Chelsea and six behind both Manchester clubs, which is something of a concern after only eight games of the campaign.

"The gap is very unpleasant," Wenger revealed

"We had an opportunity that Tottenham could win and we could win, and we both lost. That, of course, makes the gap a lot bigger and you cannot say you do not worry about that.

"But what is more disappointing is that we could not score. It was a poor collective offensive performance.

"It is a good lesson for us but I would have preferred not to get it because, if you need lessons like that, you will stand there at the end of the season and be full of regrets.

"We have to face the reality that, if you are not completely ready in the Premier League, then you have no chance," he concluded.