Source: Daily_Mail
Cesc Fabregas facing Arsenal ration as Arsene Wenger admits fears
Blow: Arsenal skipper Fabregas was injured against Braga[LNB]Arsene Wenger admits he is baffled by Cesc Fabregas's ongoing hamstring problems and fears his captain's body may be starting to crack under the mental and physical strain. [LNB]Wenger has ruled Fabregas out for at least two weeks after he pulled a hamstring against Braga on Tuesday and promised to treat the Spanish playmaker with extreme caution over the next two months. [LNB]Hamstring injuries have troubled Fabregas for more than a year and Arsenal's medical team have investigated various theories, including the possibility that the problem is rooted in his posture, without finding an answer. [LNB]He has consulted specialists around the world without success and his manager fears it may simply be a culmination of the stress placed on his body and mind since establishing himself for club and country as a teenager. [LNB]Wenger said: 'He has more pressure on his shoulders than before, pressure to do well, pressure to deliver, to be the captain. I don't know if that has an influence. [LNB]'He feels a responsibility to win things, but that doesn't explain why he gets injured. It's difficult because you can have psychological reasons or physical reasons. [LNB]'We have analysed his body and there is no fatigue. He is not tired. He is a guy who just has a little bit of a hamstring problem. Where does it come from? Does it come from his back, from the fact that he is naturally not flexible? [LNB]'Before, when you were injured, you waited at home until you were ready to play again and then you played again. Today you have 10 scientists around you. We will consult every specialist we can but it still doesn't stop him from being injured. One thing is for sure, every hamstring injury increases your chances of having another one. [LNB] Weeks out: Eboue is set to miss at least a month after injuring knee ligaments[LNB]'We were concerned with his left leg before this game and it happened on his right one. It's very difficult to predict. [LNB]'What is remarkable is that people who are exposed to hamstring injuries are normally sprinters like Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs, but Cesc is a ball-giver, more of a stamina player. That's what puzzles me alittle bit.' Wenger is not tempted to ease the weight of responsibilityby taking the captaincy from Fabregas. [LNB]'When you take the captaincy from someone you put more pressure on that person,' said the Arsenal boss. [LNB] Problems: Wenger needs to inspire his captain-less Gunners[LNB]'You are telling him he's not good enough to be captain and, for me, Cesc is a fantastic leader. [LNB]'In every big game he takes the ball and plays and is not scared. That is what you want from a leader and I think he will develop more.' [LNB]Gutted: Midfielder Wilshere[LNB]Instead, Fabregas will be handled with care over the coming weeks. Heis only 23 and played the 328th senior game of his career in Braga, more than twice the total played by teammate Alex Song, who is the same age. [LNB]Yet his manager refuses to rule him out of the clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on December 13. [LNB]'We may have to be more cautious with him, especially in the next two months,' said Wenger. [LNB]'But if Cesc tells me it is all right after two weeks, I will play him. When you're 23 and you're fit, you want to play football. [LNB]'We had a chat before the game on Tuesday and he felt perfectly all right. All the data was positive and it is difficult to say to a player,''I know you feel good but you don't play''. [LNB]'On the other hand, Cesc has played 50 games a year from a young age. I will do what is right for him and for the club.' [LNB]Wenger confirmed that Emmanuel Eboue, also injured in the defeat in Braga, has suffered medial knee ligament damage and will be out for up to six weeks. [LNB]Manuel Almunia is back in first-team contention after returning for the reserves after an elbow injury this week, but is unlikely to oust Lukasz Fabianski. [LNB] They have lofty ambitions but when it comes to the big games, the Gunners keep falling shortMartin Keown: Arsenal were being lazy all over the pitch in shock Braga defeat Djourou admits it will be disastrous if Arsenal don't qualify for knockout stages Ramsey sets sights on Arsenal return after ending nine-month injury hellARSENAL FC
