Arsenal v Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas faces late fitness test after missing training

30 March 2010 13:12
The 22 year-old picked up a leg injury during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham, and Arsenal manager Wenger admitted: Wenger confirmed: "He did not train this morning and at moment he is not fit to play. [LNB]'We will give him 24 hours more, but I don't know if he will be available. If the game were today, he would not play. [LNB] Related ArticlesBendtner confident of starring on big stageThierry Henry the inventive InvincibleBergkamp backs visionLionel Messi 'as good as Maradona'Messi has world at his feetArshavin Arsenal's answer to Messi'If he is not capable to play, I would not take a gamble and put him on the bench.' [LNB]Although Fabregas could not be available, centre-back William Gallas has returned to training after missing eight games with a calf problem and will be in the squad. [LNB]Fabregas is desperate to play against the team with whom he spent six years before moving to London but he may now have to wait until the return leg at the Nou Camp before facing his former club.[LNB]Fabregas is Arsenal's leading scorer this season with 18 goals in 35 matches from central midfield, with Wenger this season playing the Catalan in a more advanced, free roaming role. [LNB]Wenger had expressed confidence Fabregas would recover sufficiently following intensive treatment on the injury but little more than 24 hours ahead of the eagerly anticipated match that confidence looks less and less convincing. [LNB]Emmanuel Eboué could come into the Arsenal side to stiffen a midfield that will be required to combat the devastating Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez. [LNB]Barcelona will be without midfielder Andres Iniesta because of injury but defenders Eric Abidal and Gerard Pique should have recovered from injury to play. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph