Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits it is "very difficult" to say when England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be back in action.

The 20-year-old former Saints starlet missed Monday night's 3-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium because of a niggling groin problem, after which Wenger indicated he would need at least two weeks' complete rest.

Arsenal could seal up fourth place this weekend, when they host West Brom on Sunday after Everton play Manchester City, and head to Norwich for the final Barclays Premier League match before then finishing their domestic campaign with the FA Cup final against Hull at Wembley on May 17.

By then, England manager Roy Hodgson will have named his provisional 30-man World Cup squad.

Wenger, though, remains cautious over the rehabilitation of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who like Jack Wilshere - recovering from a fractured foot - will be desperate for a place on the plane to Brazil.

"Alex is in treatment at the moment and not in training. It is very difficult to give you a timescale on him at the moment," Wenger said.

Full-back Kieran Gibbs is also sidelined by a hamstring problem, but is set to resume full training shortly. Midfielder Abou Diaby will not be rushed after reporting a minor groin problem following his return from a serious knee injury in the under-21s.