Gunners confirm Fabregas absence

21 September 2010 11:25
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is out for up to three weeks with a hamstring problem and looks set to miss the clash with Chelsea on October 3.[LNB] The Spain midfielder suffered the injury as he netted a freak goal at Sunderland on Saturday, the ball kicked into him by Anton Ferdinand and it looped back into the goal.[LNB]Fabregas, 23, had just been finding his form having returned late after reaching the World Cup final.[LNB]With Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner all still sidelined, the loss of another key man is an additional blow to manager Arsene Wenger[LNB]Fabregas last night used his personal Twitter account to reveal he hoped to be playing again in two weeks, saying: "I have some fluid but nothing bad in the muscle."[LNB]However, the official club line today was more cautious.[LNB]"Arsenal Football Club have confirmed that Cesc Fabregas will be out for two to three weeks," a statement read.[LNB]"The Spanish midfielder gave the visitors an early lead at Sunderland on Saturday but then picked up a hamstring injury. He was substituted just before the half-hour. The extent of the injury was discovered after a scan on Monday afternoon."[LNB]Fabregas would not have been included in the squad for tonight's Carling Cup third-round tie at Tottenham, with Wenger again set to use a combination of fringe and youth players.[LNB]The Gunners skipper will also miss Saturday's visit of West Brom, as well as next week's trip to Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League, and it remains to be seen whether he has recovered in time to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 3.[LNB]Wenger, meanwhile, could decide to serve a one-match ban at White Hart Lane tonight after being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his behaviour towards officials at the conclusion of the game at Sunderland, where the hosts netted an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time.

Source: Team_Talk