Hleb blow for Gunners

Midfielder picks up hamstring injury playing for Belarus

Last updated: 22nd November 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hleb blow for Gunners

Hleb: Out for three weeks

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Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb to be out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Hleb picked up the problem during Belarus' 2-1 win over Holland on Wednesday, and failed to reappear for the second half of the Euro 2008 qualifier.

He will miss Saturday's game with Wigan Athletic and he is also likely to sit out the Gunners' remaining two UEFA Champions League group matches.

"Hleb came back with a hamstring injury," Wenger told the club's official website. "So once again we lose someone during this [international] period.

"I think he'll be out for 21 days."

More problems

Wenger is short on midfield options for the visit of Wigan, with Cesc Fabregas suspended and Gilberto Silva not due to return from international duty with Brazil until Friday.

Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby are also injured, while Dutch striker Robin van Persie is at least a week away from his comeback from a knee injury.

"Flamini came back with a little thigh problem too," added Wenger. "That will be one week maximum.

"Senderos is available, but Cesc is suspended. Diaby has a back problem from the Slavia Prague game and he'll be out for three weeks. Robin van Persie is not back and he will not be back for Sevilla either.

"Gilberto will return very, very late. In fact he only comes back on Friday. So, as for the rest of the squad, we'll see."