Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Gunners to wait on Fabregas

30 Mar 2010 - 16:15:34

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The Spain midfielder missed training on Tuesday after suffering severe bruising to his knee during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he will leave it until the 11th hour on Wednesday before deciding whether Fabregas will play against the European champions in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

"At the moment he is not fit," explained the Frenchman. "We will assess the situation, if he has full capacity we will play him.

"The medical staff tell me he could be available and that will be decided in the warm-up, that's how late we will leave it."

However, Wenger has stressed that the midfield playmaker will only be part of the squad if he is fully fit.

He added: "We have a squad of 19 players so I have considered the possibility of leaving him out completely.

"We will give him 24 hours more, but I don't know if he will be available.

"If he is not capable to play I would not even play him on the bench."