Source: Daily_Mail
Don't panic, cries Wenger after Arsenal are hit by Gallas injury blow
Arsenal's assault on two trophies received a serious setback with the news that William Gallas could be out for another month. [LNB]The former captain, out since mid-February, was closing in on a first-team return when his calf muscle gave way as he trained on Sunday. [LNB]And manager Arsene Wenger admitted that the club's impatience to bring back their influential central defender could have backfired. [LNB] Injury blow: Key defender William Gallas could miss the next month and will not play against Porto[LNB]Gallas was sent for a scan on Monday, as was Cesc Fabregas, who hasalso been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 tie againstPorto with another hamstring strain, his third in the same muscle sinceearly December.[LNB]Wenger is confident Fabregas will not be a long-term absentee, back at the latest to face West Ham a week on Saturday, but his assessment of Gallas was much gloomier. [LNB]He said: 'He was feeling very well. He had no pain at all, then he goes for a little jog and boom, it goes again. Unfortunately, we are at the starting point again. [LNB]'At the beginning it was a minor injury. We were impatient and we pushed him - he wanted to get on as well - and that is maybe why it has happened.' [LNB]The injury to Gallas means Sol Campbell is expected to line up at the back alongside Thomas Vermaelen, but at 35 he is not able to play every game. [LNB]With Johan Djourou ruled out for the season with a knee injury, and Philippe Senderos on loan at Everton, Wenger's only other central defender is 32-year-old Mikael Silvestre, who was exposed against Burnley on Saturday, but will have to play some games to ease the workload on Campbell. [LNB]Gallas and his representatives are due to meet Arsenal officials later this week for a further round of negotiations about his contract, which expires in the summer. [LNB]Wenger wants to keep the 32-year-old defender, who was in outstanding form before injury hit and would like the club to bend their rule of awarding only one-year contract extensions to players over 30. [LNB]With Roma manager Claudio Ranieri interested in signing a player he worked with at Chelsea, Gallas is in a strong negotiating position despite his fitness issues. [LNB]Campbell's return is ironic as Arsene Wenger's starlets seek inspiration from another old-fashioned central defender who once braved local hatred to make the switch from Tottenham to Arsenal. [LNB]The turncoat in question is Willie Young, a name unlikely to even register with most of Wenger's youthful squad. [LNB]Not since Young scored Arsenal's winner against Hajduk Split at Highbury to win a UEFA Cup second-round tie on away goals more than 30 years ago have they overturned a first-leg deficit in Europe. [LNB]They have never done it in the Champions League, but must start now if they are to progress to the last eight. [LNB]'We have a good chance to make history,' smiled Arsene Wenger, who's team trail Porto 2-1 after a first leg most memorable for the mistakes of stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. [LNB]'To score away from home is still a massive advantage in the UEFA rules and that is why we are confident. To lose 1-0 away is a terrible result because you know, if you concede one, it's nearly over. [LNB] Sol survivor: Campbell will start alongside Thomas Vermaelen for the crunch visit of the Portuguese side[LNB]'We have scored and that to me is a massive difference. This time, if you score one, you are through if you don't concede. It is a tricky game but we know we can score goals. We want a better defensive performance.' [LNB]Arsenal leaked just one goal in their group games but their defensive frailties were laid bare by Jesualdo Ferreira's Porto in the Estadio do Dragao three weeks ago. [LNB]Enlarge Fabianski spilled a low cross into his own net after 11 minutes, before a bizarre mix-up between the Polish keeper and Campbell presented Falcao with a simple winner from a quickly taken free-kick. [LNB]'I don't want to talk about a teammate's mistakes,' said Manuel Almunia. [LNB]'We had a bad result but everyone is 100 per cent convinced we can do it. Our priority will be to maintain a clean sheet.' [LNB]That defensive focus will dominate Wenger's thoughts but he added: 'We want to win this game but we also need to be patient. Maybe it is more important to keep your head.' [LNB]LIVE: ARSENAL v PORTO Follow all the action live from The Emirates with Tom Bellwood on Sportsmail Online. [LNB]Fabregas's scan showed no major muscle damage but Wenger will take no chances. [LNB]He said: 'To play again would mean significant damage. We cannot take a gamble.' [LNB]Porto have problems of their own. They required two late goals to salvage a 2-2 draw at Olhanense on Saturday, and Fernando, their Brazilian midfield anchor, is injured and there is a theory experienced boss Ferreira may omit his prolific centre forward Falcao in order to field a more industrious front three.[LNB] Huge blow for Arsenal as Cesc Fabregas is ruled out of Champions League showdown against PortoWill he, won't he? Ranieri admits he wants Gallas on a free from ArsenalWenger eyes Palermo teen target man Hernandez to give Arsenal some oomphARSENAL FC
