Cesc Fabregas is hopeful he will be ready to face Aston Villa on Sunday as he continues to recover from a minor hamstring strain.
The 22-year-old missed Saturday's 3-0 win over Hull after limping out of the draw at Burnley three days earlier having scored the opening goal.
Fabregas has been in sparkling form this season with 10 goals and 14 assists and admits his latest injury is a frustrating disruption.
"It is a big shame because I was feeling good in the Burnley game and these things seem to happen when I am at the top of my game," said the Spaniard.
"I think it is three times now that it has happened and it breaks your momentum a bit. You learn to cope with it, though, and rest assured that I will be working as hard as I can over the Christmas period to be back for the game with Aston Villa."
With Arsenal and Villa level on points, the visit of Martin O'Neill's side could define a hectic schedule of five matches in 14 days which includes the FA Cup third-round trip to West Ham early in the New Year.
The Gunners have a host of players unavailable through injury as Arsene Wenger looks to navigate the festive period but Fabregas said: "I don't think a club like Arsenal can worry about that."
