Fàbregas concern adds to Wenger's worries

Not only did Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger see his side fail to gain ground on the top teams in the English Premier League with Sunday's 1-1 home draw against Liverpool FC but he is likely to be without captain Cesc Fàbregas for an important series of fixtures.

Points shared
Things were going Arsenal's way when Robin van Persie gave them the lead midway through the first half. But three minutes before the interval Robbie Keane – formerly of the Gunners' local rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC - equalised, Fàbregas did not emerge for the second period due to a knee injury and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off for a second yellow card with 28 minutes left. The result keeps Arsenal in fifth place, eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who will lose that status if Chelsea FC win at Everton FC tonight.

Fàbregas injury
With Arsenal travelling to third-placed Aston Villa FC on Boxing Day before playing Portsmouth FC two days later, Fàbregas's problem was an immediate concern to Wenger, who suggested his absence could be between one and three weeks. "It is a medial knee ligament problem," the Arsenal manager said. "I don't know [how long he will be out for], it is difficult to assess. Of course it is a blow, you don't want to lose a player like that but we have to cope with it." However, Wenger is not writing off their championship chances. "The title is decided in May not December, so yes we can still win it," he added.

Mixed feelings
Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez was absent from the game due to a recent operation to remove kidney stones but kept in touch by telephone as assistant Sammy Lee took charge. Lee, whose team are two points ahead of Chelsea after drawing four of their last five league games, said: "This is Liverpool and we look to take three points everywhere we go. The boys are disappointed but we have to accentuate the positives and we have got a good point at a very good club. Part of our disappointment is that we did not use our numerical advantage but credit to Arsenal, who worked hard when they were a man down."