• Champions League

Arsenal hit by Gallas injury setback

William Gallas will miss Tuesday's clash with Porto © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ferguson wants Old Trafford rocking against Milan
  
• News: Gunners attempt to overturn deficit
  

Arsenal have renewed fears over the fitness of William Gallas after Arsene Wenger conceded the defender suffered a recurrence of a calf injury after being "pushed" to return by the club.

Gallas has not played for Arsenal since a 1-0 victory over Liverpool on February 10 and his recovery was interrupted in training ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie with Porto as he suffered a setback in his fitness.

It is the latest fitness conundrum for the Arsenal medical team to deal with having seen a substantial number of first-team players sidelined for varying lengths of time in recent seasons.

Wenger has admitted culpability after pushing the 32-year-old to return and reports indicate Gallas could now be missing for a further month. In his absence, Sol Campbell is expected to start against Porto as Arsenal aim to overcome a 2-1 first-leg defeat.

"We are at the starting point with Gallas unfortunately," Wenger said. "He felt very well yesterday and went out training, but he has gone backwards again. We don't know how long it will be, but for Hull on Saturday he has no chance.

"We were impatient with him and we pushed him and he wanted to get on as well, which is why maybe it has happened. There is no obvious sign as to why it keeps coming back. He has no pain at all, then goes for a little jog and then it goes again.

"It was unexpected that Sol would play so many games, but it is also good because I think it was the right decision to bring him back. Sol is a guy who gives everything when he is on the pitch. Can his body still take two or three games in a week? Who knows.

"But we have a good mixture with him and [Mikael] Silvestre because he is also a player who gives everything, so we can rotate them. The only problem is that when you play with two left-footed players sometimes Vermaelen is not always in his best position."

Arsenal are also missing captain Cesc Fabregas for Tuesday's game against Porto after the Spaniard sustained a hamstring injury in a 3-1 win over Burnley at the weekend. Wenger decided against gambling with the player's fitness but Fabregas admits he was keen to play as Arsenal seek a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"I wanted to play but the doctors recommended I rest and avoid any risk," Fabregas told the Sun. "I am sad to miss out because Porto is important to us. I will suffer far more than usual, having to watch from the side."

Arsenal approach the Porto game in good spirits following a comprehensive win against Burnley, but the margin of victory on Saturday could have been much greater but for some wayward finishing from Nicklas Bendtner, who missed a succession of golden opportunities.

The Dane - who has scored five goals in a season disrupted by injury - has seen his ability and prowess questioned in the press, but Wenger believes Bendtner is progressing well at Arsenal and that the ultra-confident striker will not let Saturday's disappointment affect him.

"I believe he is on the way up in his game and in terms of his contribution," Wenger said. "He missed some big chances on Saturday, but that is needed for any young striker at some stage. He looks at why he missed the chances and gets it right in the next game.

"Nicklas is really improving at the moment. That was just an isolated game. In every competition you always have something to prove and show how good you are. He has a good mental strength and, even if he was disappointed with the chances he missed, it will not diminish his desire and confidence to going to the next game."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.