Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Cesc fitness in balance
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Cesc Fabregas is struggling to be fit for Sunday's Premier League clash at Chelsea.[LNB] The Gunners captain picked up a hamstring injury in the clash at Sunderland and has been sidelined for almost two weeks.[LNB]Fabregas had targeted the crunch game at Stamford Bridge as his comeback date but Wenger concedes that the North Londoners could be without their talismanic skipper.[LNB]The 23-year-old has been left out of the Spain squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers with Scotland and Lithuania and when asked about the likelihood of Fabregas returning on Sunday, Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "I don't know.[LNB]"It looks a 50-50 but a 50-50 balancing on the negative side. I will find out on Saturday morning."[LNB]The news comes as a major blow for Arsenal as they look to bounce back from their disastrous home defeat at the hands of West Brom last weekend.[LNB]Wenger's men picked up a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday, but if the Blues add another victory to their impressive record over the Gunners in recent years then there will be a seven-point gap between the two teams in the table.[LNB]The French coach may be spared the difficult choice of who to start in goal, though, as Manuel Almunia could miss out with an elbow injury.[LNB]Lukasz Fabianski had a great game in Belgrade in his absence and was already pushing for another start before the latest injury update, and he may get his wish as Wenger revealed the extent of Almunia's problem.[LNB]"That one is even more difficult," he added.[LNB]"He has not been in a regular training session. So I will see."[LNB]On the other players available for the weekend, Wenger remarked: "(Thomas) Vermaelen - no. Abou Diaby has an 80 per cent chance to be involved.[LNB]"I am not sure if he will be completely 100% but if he is 100% he will be in the squad.[LNB]"Nicklas Bendtner (groin) should be available after the international break.[LNB]"And Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) is progressing very well."
