Gunners' injury woes dampen Wenger's joy

LONDON: Arsene Wenger's pleasure at seeing Arsenal progress to the Champions League knockout stage has been tempered by injury blows to two crucial defenders ahead of Sunday's pivotal English Premier League tussle with Chelsea.

The Frenchman was angry at seeing Kieran Gibbs (pictured), the left back, sustain a broken first metatarsal in his left foot after a poor challenge from Standard Liege's Eliaquim Mangala in the dying moments of Tuesday's group game at the Emirates stadium.

Gibbs collapsed in agony and was taken to hospital, where X-rays confirmed Arsenal's worst fears: he will undergo an operation this week and is expected to be out for at least two months.