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Arsene Wenger has been dealt a double injury blow as Arsenal’s season was plunged into crisis.

Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are both set to miss Arsenal’s crunch Champions League showdown at Olympiacos on December 9.

Chilean forward Sanchez is facing a three week lay-off with the hamstring injury which saw him limp off at Norwich on Sunday.

But the only piece of good news was that Laurent Koscielny - who limped off with a hip problem at Norwich - is expected to return to training this week as scans have revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared.

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Wenger is still likely to be without EIGHT first team squad members for the home game with Sunderland on Saturday.

Kieran Gibbs missed the Norwich game with a calf problem but is likely to be back for Sunderland on Saturday.

But everyone else is struggling with Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin all long term injury absentees.

Mikel Arteta is hoping to be back in the next fortnight after his calf problem but Theo Walcott is facing a race to be fit before Christmas.

In pictures - Norwich 1-1 Arsenal

Walcott is set to be the next Arsenal player back after his calf problem but even his return is unlikely to be as quick as originally hoped as he has yet to return to full training and has only resumed running.

Sanchez is a massive blow but, despite the Arsenal star hoping it was only a kick, it is believed that it is a hamstring pull.

Arsenal also face an anxious wait on the scan results for Cazorla who fears his knee injury will also be a lay-off with possible ligament or nerve damage.

That sends Arsenal into a crunch period in the middle of an injury crisis which threatens to undermine their whole season.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley)

Arsenal face six games before the end of December as they face Sunderland, Olympiacos and then crunch games with Aston Villa, Manchester City, Southampton and Bournemouth.

They will be missing key players for the whole festive programme and that could see Arsenal drop valuable points in the title race.

But the immediate worry is not just Sunderland. They must go to Olympiacos needing to win by two clear goals or beat the Greek side on the head-to-head to reach the Champions League knock-out stage or face going into the Europa League.

It is a major problem but Arsenal full back Hector Bellerin insists they can cope and they will come through the injury crisis.

(Image: Michael Regan/Getty)

Bellerin said: “I have said it before, there is great depth in the team. There are a lot of young players in the team waiting to come through, and we have a lot of quality training with us every day.

“They are ready to step up so obviously every single player on the bench can do the same job as every single player in the starting XI. We don’t need to worry about [the injuries to Alexis and Koscielny].

“The only thing we need to do is go out onto the pitch with the right mentality, it does not matter who we play.”

Arsenal's injury list

Alexis Sanchez - hamstring, 3 weeks

Santi Cazorla - knee

Laurent Koscielny - hip (likely to be fit for this weekend)

Kieran Gibbs - set to return this weekend

Jack Wilshere - ankle, Christmas

Theo Walcott - calf, three weeks

Danny Welbeck - knee, two months

Tomas Rosicky - groin, month

Francis Coquelin - knee, three months

Mikel Arteta - calf, two weeks