Olivier Giroud ruled out for three weeks

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that striker Olivier Giroud has been ruled out for the next three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 31-year-old - linked with a January exit from the Emirates - is not expected to return to action until the middle of next month at the earliest, meaning that he will likely miss league games against Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea and Bournemouth, as well as the EFL Cup semi-final against the Blues and the FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest.

Giroud suffered the injury during the EFL Cup quarter-final tie with West Ham United, leaving Wenger with just one out-and-out striker at his disposal in the form of Alexandre Lacazette.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also confirmed that defender Nacho Monreal will be out for around a fortnight after he hobbled off during the draw with Liverpool last week.

Aaron Ramsey is also expected to miss the next two games with his own hamstring injury.