Arsenal and England winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain faces a race against time to be fit for Euro 2016 after his club boss Arsene Wenger confirmed he will miss the next two months due to a knee injury.

The 22-year-old sustained the problem during the Gunners’ 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last week.

Wenger initially feared the former Southampton man would require surgery on the problem but that is not the case, although the youngster will still be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Wenger said: “Six to eight weeks out – no surgery. We did fear surgery at some stage when you saw the MRI but in the end, on that front, we got positive news.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss the second leg of the European clash with Barcelona, as well as crucial domestic matches against the likes of Tottenham and Everton in the league and Hull City in the FA Cup.

The wideman will also be absent for England’s upcoming friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands although Wenger is confident he will be fit for Euro 2016 in France this summer.

England face Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B and are available at 1.91 to finish top of the group, while they are 1.11 to qualify for the knockout stages.