Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Cech's injury dents Arsenal's title hopes

March 04, 2016 15:57 IST

Arsenal's Cech out for a month with calf injury

Petr Cech

IMAGE: Arsenal 'keeper Petr Cech reacts. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will be out for three to four weeks with the calf injury he picked up in Wednesday's Premier League defeat by Swansea City, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

Cech was injured while running back to his own penalty area after coming up for a corner in the last minute of the 2-1 loss which left Arsenal in third place, three points behind Tottenham Hotspur and six adrift of leaders Leicester City.

The goalkeeper will miss Saturday's North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur as well as the FA Cup replay against Hull City, Premier League games against West Bromwich Albion and Everton, and the second-leg tie in the last 16 of the Champions League against Barcelona.

He will be replaced by reserve keeper David Ospina, Wenger told a news conference on Friday.

Centre back Laurent Koscielny will also miss the game against Spurs with a minor calf injury and is doubtful for Tuesday's trip to Hull but is likely to return to face West Brom on March 12.

Wenger rejected former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry's comments that fans were enraged by the loss to Swansea.

Arsenal's record goalscorer said he had never heard the Arsenal supporters as angry as they were at the Emirates on Wednesday.

"Thierry Henry has his opinions," Wenger said.

"He has not found the measurement of the fans' angriness, of 60,000 people, straight away because he sits in the best seats in the stadium."

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.