Arsenal winger Walcott ruled out for 4-6 weeks

Arsenal winger Walcott ruled out for 4-6 weeks

Published Sep. 9, 2010 4:53 p.m. ET

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is set to be out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.

Walcott turned his right ankle in the buildup to Wayne Rooney's opening goal for England in a 3-1 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday and was carried off the field on a stretcher.

''The tackle looked quite bad,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Thursday. ''When you see how it turned his ankle I thought it would be three or four days or it would be four to six weeks. Unfortunately it will be four to six weeks. We had some good news about the scan because at some stage we were scared it could be worse.

''But overall it is a question of patience and rehabilitation.''

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Arsenal is also without Netherlands striker Robin van Persie until at least mid-October because of a left ankle injury sustained against Blackburn last month.

''The damage was bigger than expected and he will be four to six weeks,'' Wenger said.

Both players will be missing for Arsenal's opening Champions League group stage matches, and their countries' European Championship qualifiers next month.

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