Cesc Fabregas has admitted he feels he has been lucky to escape the type of serious injury suffered by Arsenal team-mate Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey, 19, fractured his right tibia and fibula in a challenge with Ryan Shawcross during the second half of Arsenal's 3-1 win at Stoke last weekend.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger condemned the tackle as "horrendous and unacceptable" after seeing another of his players suffer an horrific injury.
Eduardo spent the best part of a year on the sidelines when his season was ended by a challenge from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor in 2008.
Abou Diaby, who was sidelined for eight months with a broken ankle after a challenge from Sunderland's Dan Smith in May 2006, feels such incidents will continue unless the Arsenal players get more protection from referees.
Fabregas is often on the end of some robust challenges and believes the Gunners have to stand up to rough treatment from teams looking to knock them off their passing game.
"Everyone thinks 'We are playing Arsenal, we have to go in hard on them', and I have no problem with the contact game," the Arsenal captain said.
"If opponents think that is the best way for them to beat us, no problem, but when you put your foot half a metre high on someone's leg, that is not right.
"It is not the first time this season we have seen challenges like this, but until someone breaks their leg no-one speaks about it.
"It has happened twice to me this season and I was lucky I did not get badly injured.
"I am sure he [Shawcross] did not want to break Aaron's leg, but the tackle was dangerous. It was terrible.
"I am sure he wanted to win the ball, but when your foot is that high only he knows what he was trying to do."
Fabregas scored the opening goal in Arsenal's 3-1 Premier League win over Burnley, but was taken off before half-time with a hamstring problem and is now doubtful for the Champions League game with Porto on Tuesday night.
