Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger continues to have an injury crisis in his midfield with his big players still missing, but a couple of players who missed out the 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday could be available for the Boxing Day match against Queens Park Rangers.
Arsenal need a win in the English Premier League, after their rather disappointing performance against Liverpool, where they were outplayed for large parts of the game, and then conceded a 97th minute equaliser.
However, Wenger will have to do without Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil, Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny.
"They are all out," said Wenger. "The closest at the moment is Koscielny. I believe he's a bit short for Friday, maybe has a chance for Sunday [against West Ham].
"Arteta is progressing well. It should be very quick now, [even if] he will not play before January.
"Ramsey has a chance to be fit for Southampton [on New Year's Day]."
It is not all doom and gloom on the injury front, though, with Tomas Rosicky and Yaya Sanogo set to return to the squad, while Hector Bellerin might also make it after missing the Liverpool game.
"From Sunday I think everybody should be fit and available," added Wenger. "We might have Rosicky back in the squad and Sanogo back in the squad.
"Bellerin, I don't know yet, but certainly Rosicky and Sanogo will be available."
Bellerin's return will be welcome, after the right-back had a really good game against Newcastle. The youngster will also give Wenger the option of resting Calum Chambers, who the manager admitted has "hit the wall" after playing way too many games at such a young age in his first season for Arsenal.
"For a 19-year-old player, he has played too many games," said Wenger. "They all hit the wall after 15, 17 games. You have to give them a breather, refresh and get them back again.
"At the moment, to have that responsibility in every single game is a lot on a player of that age."
Another welcome return would be Theo Walcott, the player Arsenal have arguably missed the most. That electric pace and the ability to run in behind the defence and finish is vital for Arsenal, and there is no better player at the club than Walcott to do just that.
Wenger confirmed the forward is back in training from a groin problem which has hampered his return from a serious knee injury, and he could be in line for a start sometime during the festive season.
"He had only two days training with the team, I will see how he is this week," Wenger said. "But fitness-wise he is not far.
"It is more that Theo has basically not played since January, so it has been a year."
