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Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could miss the rest of the season for the second successive year after struggling to recover from a groin injury.

The England midfielder, 21, has not played since the Gunners’ FA Cup win at Manchester United on March 9.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was substituted in the second half of the Old Trafford clash and has not played since for the FA Cup finalists.

Connections are hoping he does not need surgery but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who suggested last week that his midfielder could be back in full training by this weekend, confirmed on Thursday that he has not yet returned.

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It was initially expected that the former Southampton star would out for weeks rather than months.

But Oxlade Chamberlain is now set to miss the season run-in for the second successive campaign.

Last year he missed the final month which meant he played no part in the FA Cup Final victory over Hull.