Arsene Wenger says that first-half injuries limited his options during Saturday's north London derby.
Arsenal lost Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey during the first half against Tottenham Hotspur, with Jack Wilshere also suffering a knock.
The 22-year-old managed to last an hour but Wenger was unable to bring on fresh legs in the game's closing stages.
"I only had one position left. [If] we could have brought Rosicky and Podolski on in the final 30 minutes, it would certainly have made a difference"
"It did affect us but we had a go in the second half and were always dominating," the manager told Arsenal Player. "It restricted the options to put strikers on.
"I only had one position left. [If] we could have brought Rosicky and Podolski on in the final 30 minutes, it would certainly have made a difference.
"I don't know [how long Jack will miss] because it's [the] ankle where he's already had an injury before. I hope [he won't be out] for a long time. Mikel and Aaron are out for [Galatasaray and Chelsea] for sure.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first goal of the season at the weekend. Wenger was pleased with the winger's contribution and hopes he will now find the net with more regularity.
"That's what you want from him," he said. "He's improving on that front because sometimes he was a bit outside the box.
"Now he starts to get in there and I hope that the fact he could score will give him the appetite to get more of that."
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