Arsenal defender William Gallas is expected to be out of action for several weeks after pulling a thigh muscle in training.
The French defender will now miss Tuesday’s Champions League game with Hamburg after suffering the injury on Monday.
“We’ve lost Gallas in the final shot of training,” Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger told a news conference. “He pulled his thigh and will be out for a few weeks.
“It is a blow because he stabilises our defence. As well, it’s a good opportunity for a young player to come and show that he’s good.
“But of course, overall, we wanted him to be fit – not only because of his quality but as well because of the number of games we have coming up…we are playing three times a week.”
With Gallas missing the visit of Hamburg, Wenger is likely to call on one of his young Swiss internationals Johann Djourou or Philippe Senderos to play alongside Kolo Toure at the heart of the Arsenal defence.
