Song sidelined for Barcelona trip

Arsenal FC will need to cope without Alex Song for the decisive leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with FC Barcelona on Tuesday after the defensive midfielder was ruled out of the trip to Spain with a knee injury.

Song was substituted 19 minutes from time as Arsenal defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the Premier League on Saturday but had initially been expected to be passed fit for the Camp Nou contest. "It was a bad surprise this morning because he had a scan yesterday afternoon on his knee and he has an inflamed cartilage," said manager Arsène Wenger. "We have to wait and see how bad it is, but he is completely out of the squad for tomorrow's game."

Song filled in at centre-back after William Gallas was withdrawn with a calf complaint during the 2-2 first-leg draw in London and was an option to continue there in Catalonia. With the Cameroonian international now sidelined, Arsenal will be hoping veteran central defender Sol Campbell can feature again after contesting 90 minutes against Wolves.

"That is a decision I have to make after speaking to him tomorrow," said Wenger. "Today he was still not completely available, although he managed to get a warm-up. To go into such a game you must be completely fit or not play at all."