Fàbregas facing six weeks out

Arsenal FC have lost captain Cesc Fàbregas for the rest of the season after a scan confirmed the midfielder cracked his right fibula against FC Barcelona while William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin are also facing spells on the sidelines.

Fàbregas suffered the injury when he was fouled by Barcelona defender Carles Puyol late in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final in north London. The 22-year-old picked himself up to convert the resulting penalty and earn a 2-2 first-leg draw, but promptly broke down and ended the match limping. He left the Arsenal Stadium on crutches. 

A scan on Thursday afternoon revealed a small crack in the bone, meaning Fàbregas faces at least six weeks on the sidelines. He would have missed next week's return match in his native Catalonia in any case having collected a first-half booking that incurred a suspension. However, the Spanish international is now set to miss the conclusion of his club's UEFA Champions League and Premier League campaigns.

Gallas and Arshavin both had to be replaced in the first half against Barça, meanwhile, and Arsène Wenger has revealed both will now be out of action for several weeks. "William had a recurrence of his calf strain; that is at least three weeks," said the Arsenal manager. "The next one is Arshavin: calf strain, three weeks. Gaël Clichy is struggling with a back problem. He might need a breather as well. I don't know yet. We will assess that tomorrow. Denilson has a groin problem, we will assess that too."