Diaby to miss three weeks

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby is set to spend more time on the sidelines this season after picking up a calf injury.

The France international returned to the pitch as a second-half substitute in their 3-1 win against Chelsea on Monday, following a nine-week hiatus due to an ankle injury.

Diaby was in the starting 11 in their 2-2 draw with Wigan on Wednesday, but was substituted in the opening 30 minutes after injuring his calf.

Manager Arsene Wenger said Diaby will miss most of January in a crucial period for the Londoners to mark their title ambitions, with the 24-year-old likely to miss away trips to Birmingham City and West Ham, and a home clash with Manchester City.

“We lost Diaby last night for a while and he will have a scan today (Thursday) but in my opinion he will be out for over three weeks,” Wenger told the club’s official site.Although Wenger said Diaby’s absence from the team was his only new injury concern, joining Thomas Vermaelen, Manuel Almunia and Kieran Gibbs in the medical room.