Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks with an ankle injury, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.
The 21-year-old left-back sustained only minor damage when he slipped during the first half of last night's 3-1 Champions League win over Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger hopes England international Gibbs - who suffered a metatarsal injury during November 2009 which sidelined him for the rest of the season and out of contention for a World Cup place - will soon be back in action.
"We have lost Kieran Gibbs from Wednesday night, but he should be the only one. We think today that he will be out for three weeks," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
"I am very disappointed [about it]. I hope it will not put in his mind that he is an injured player.
"It was just an accident and you cannot do anything about it.
"Time will help him get over that and it is not major damage in his ankle."
Wenger revealed a decision on the fitness of captain Cesc Fabregas, who has been sidelined with a hamstring problem, will be left as late as possible ahead of Monday's trip to Premier League title rivals Manchester United.
"We could have Cesc Fabregas [back], but there is a big uncertainty if he can be in the squad or not. That will be decided very late," the Arsenal manager said.
