Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is “not completely free in his mind” as he continues to struggle with his hamstring injury, according to Arsene Wenger.
The Welsh international picked up the problem in the opening game of the Premier League season against Liverpool on August 14.
Given that Wenger doesn’t expect him to return until after the upcoming international break, that will be a minimum of eight weeks that Ramsey has been on the sidelines, and it will undoubtedly be a major blow for both the player and the club.
Although the 25-year-old has returned to training, he hasn’t been able to fully participate with Wenger revealing that he is still feeling pain and is struggling with the mental aspect of the recovery too.
“Aaron is still struggling with his hamstring and I don’t think that he will be available against Basel or at Burnley so, before the break, he will not be available,” Wenger told the media at his press conference on Friday.
“He has a small grade one hamstring but he is not completely free in his mind yet to push completely, so we stop him every time when he has a little pain. He is in the last days of his rehab and, as long as he is not completely comfortable, we do not push him.”
Arsenal’s first fixture after the international break sees them take on Swansea City at the Emirates on October 15, and that appears to now likely be the first time that Gunners supporters will see Ramsey back in action.
While it’s never an ideal time to pick up an injury, the Welsh ace will be more disappointed about the timing having missed out on building on the momentum he gained during Euro 2016 this past summer.
Coupled with the competition for places at Arsenal in midfield, he’ll face a battle to firstly get fit and to then force his way back into the starting line-up when he eventually returns.