Gallas out for season - Wenger

Defender expected to sit out remainder of Gunners trophy hunt

By Danny Wright   Last updated: 1st April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gallas out for season - Wenger

Gallas: Out for season

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Arsenal defender William Gallas could miss the rest of the season after the defender picked up an injury during the 2-2 Champions League draw with Barcelona.

Gallas was carried off on a stretcher just before the halfway stage of his side's match against the Catalan giants, with manager Arsene Wenger revealing the 32-year-old had pulled a calf muscle.

It means the Frenchman is certain to miss the return leg at Camp Nou next Tuesday - along with suspended captain Cesc Fabregas - and could miss the remainder of the Gunners' domestic run-in.

The former Chelsea man had to be replaced by midfielder Denilson, with Alex Song moving from his central midfield berth to the back four to cover for the injured stopper.

The news provides Wenger with another headache after seeing Fabregas battle through 90 minutes, despite suffering the effects of an underlying knee problem as the game went on.

Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table - four points behind league leaders Manchester United with six games remaining - and Wenger was resigned to losing one half of his preferred centre-back pairing.

The Gunners boss told Canal Plusafter the absorbing Emirates affair: "He pulled his calf muscle and I think it's the end of the season for him."

Wenger said Gallas may yet feature in France's World Cup plans, though, with the tournament getting under way in June.

He added: "I do not include the World Cup. I think he will be ready for the World Cup."