~RS~a~RS~International~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~42~RS~)
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas fears his season may be over after picking up an injury late in Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw with Barcelona.
The midfielder fears he may even have suffered a broken leg during the quarter-final first leg. "I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something," said Fabregas, who left the Emirates on crutches. The Gunners may also have lost William Gallas for the season due to a calf injury suffered in Wednesday's game. Gallas limped off just before half-time in a match in which the north Londoners also lost Andrey Arshavin to a calf injury.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lamented the loss of both players, admitting that he had taken a risk on Gallas, who has missed the last six weeks through injury.
"Gallas has a calf strain and will be out for a while now," said Wenger. "I took a gamble that didn't pay off. Yes I regret that now. Arshavin has also done his calf."
Most worrying of all for the Gunners boss will be the potential severity of the injury to his influential captain. Fabregas had been a doubt for the clash with Barcelona after suffering severe bruising to his knee and leg during the Premier League game at Birmingham.
However, the Spaniard returned to lead the side, and played a pivotal role in their comeback after falling 2-0 down to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic which looked to have all but ended the tie in the Spanish side's favour. After Theo Walcott had reduced the deficit, Fabregas was bundled over by Barca defender Carlos Puyol and picked himself up to score the resultant penalty. The Arsenal captain was visibly pained following the spot-kick and admitted after the game: "When I took the penalty, I was quite strong, but after when I went to get the ball, I could not walk any more. "It is the fibula. I think I put my leg between Puyol's when I was fouled, and kicked it. "We have to wait for tomorrow, but I hope I can wear the Arsenal shirt again this season.
"I do not think it is going to be good news, but still I hope there will be."
Wenger is waiting on the results of an X-ray to discover the extent of the injury but Fabregas is unlikely to figure in Saturday's home match with Wolves regardless of the results. And he is certain to miss the Champions League return leg in Spain after picking up a second booking of the competition in the first leg, thus incurring a suspension. In better news for Arsenal, striker Robin van Persie is expected to return to full training in two weeks after being sidelined since November with an ankle ligament injury. Wenger revealed he hopes to "give him some big games to aim for at the end of the season." Van Persie, who suffered his injury playing for the Netherlands has scored seven goals in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
The midfielder fears he may even have suffered a broken leg during the quarter-final first leg. "I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something," said Fabregas, who left the Emirates on crutches. The Gunners may also have lost William Gallas for the season due to a calf injury suffered in Wednesday's game. Gallas limped off just before half-time in a match in which the north Londoners also lost Andrey Arshavin to a calf injury.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lamented the loss of both players, admitting that he had taken a risk on Gallas, who has missed the last six weeks through injury.
"Gallas has a calf strain and will be out for a while now," said Wenger. "I took a gamble that didn't pay off. Yes I regret that now. Arshavin has also done his calf."
Most worrying of all for the Gunners boss will be the potential severity of the injury to his influential captain. Fabregas had been a doubt for the clash with Barcelona after suffering severe bruising to his knee and leg during the Premier League game at Birmingham.
However, the Spaniard returned to lead the side, and played a pivotal role in their comeback after falling 2-0 down to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic which looked to have all but ended the tie in the Spanish side's favour. After Theo Walcott had reduced the deficit, Fabregas was bundled over by Barca defender Carlos Puyol and picked himself up to score the resultant penalty. The Arsenal captain was visibly pained following the spot-kick and admitted after the game: "When I took the penalty, I was quite strong, but after when I went to get the ball, I could not walk any more. "It is the fibula. I think I put my leg between Puyol's when I was fouled, and kicked it. "We have to wait for tomorrow, but I hope I can wear the Arsenal shirt again this season.
"I do not think it is going to be good news, but still I hope there will be."
Wenger is waiting on the results of an X-ray to discover the extent of the injury but Fabregas is unlikely to figure in Saturday's home match with Wolves regardless of the results. And he is certain to miss the Champions League return leg in Spain after picking up a second booking of the competition in the first leg, thus incurring a suspension. In better news for Arsenal, striker Robin van Persie is expected to return to full training in two weeks after being sidelined since November with an ankle ligament injury. Wenger revealed he hopes to "give him some big games to aim for at the end of the season." Van Persie, who suffered his injury playing for the Netherlands has scored seven goals in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
