By Randy Osae

Captain on his knees in pain

Captain on his knees in pain

No wonder why there was such hefty anxiety in wait for the after-math of an injury that only saw Arsenal’s captain limp off in pain on Sunday.

It was much worse, so dreadful of an injury that Cesc Fabregas – if Wenger’s estimation is anything to go by – will be out for a colossal four months at most.

The challenge with fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso that has resulted in this lengthy lay-off was fairly not the most vital of all. In a move to win back possession and force an Arsenal surge, a clash with his country-man caused a partial rupture of Fabregas’ medial knee ligament – a very horrendous wound to the knee.

Wenger’s words in disclosing the news during his pre-match press conference were with anguish over that split-second event but maintained his blind optimism as to Arsenal’s contention for success without the skipper.

“The news is not good because it is a partial rupture of the medial knee ligament which is taking three to four months injury time,” revealed Wenger at his pre-match press conference. “We count four, we know he will be working very hard to come back earlier but I count four months.

“How much [we will miss him] is difficult to say, the only thing we can say for sure is that we will miss him of course. We have to find a way to compensate for the fact he will not be on the pitch, and give everybody a bit more. I am sure we can deal with it. When he comes back he can help us to get over the line in the final months.

“The challenge [by Alonso] was fair and honest, I have no problem with it. It is exactly what I have said many times, it is the kind of thing you accept in the game that can happen. I don’t feel there was any intention to hurt, it was purely accidental.

“It is a blow [to lose him] of course, but we can show we have the strengths to deal with it. Of course it is a blow to lose Fabregas in the middle of the season – for four months – but it is a good opportunity to show we can deal with it and have the needed strengths.”

Below is a video of Alonso’s tackle that ended in this woeful injury blow.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5xUYR6XVKE&feature=channel_page]