Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey ruled out for rest of festive period with thigh injury

Aaron Ramsey will miss the next two Premier League matches after sustaining a thigh strain during Arsenal’s 3-1 win at West Ham on St Stephen’s Day.

The Welshman was forced off after 65 minutes at Upton Park with the Gunners 1-0 down to Carlton Cole strike.

Arsenal recovered thanks to a Theo Walcott brace, then Ramsey’s replacement, Lukas Podolski scored a third on his return from injury.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he might need to make changes ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle and the home game against Cardiff on New Year’s Day.

“I will have to make the right decisions,” Wenger said.

“I rested [Santi] Cazorla for a few games and you could see today he had an outstanding game and what a difference that makes when the player is fresh. I rested [Tomas] Rosicky, [Jack] Wilshere will come back from suspension so we will have two more options.

“It’s not a knock [for Ramsey], it’s a muscular thigh strain so that means the Christmas period is finished for him.”