Djourou injury ´not as serious´

The Swiss FA have given Arsenal a huge boost over the fitness of defender Johan Djourou.

In a release on their website, the Swiss have revealed every effort is being made to get Djourou fit for his country’s Euro 2012 clash against Bulgaria on March 26.

“The shoulder injury to Johan Djourou is less serious than feared on Saturday and announced by the coach of his club,” the release said.

“The Arsenal defender and member of the Switzerland national team was submitted to thorough medical examinations on Monday.”

“At the end of a long, exhausting day, Johan Djourou had new hope that…. his season is not over yet.”

The report also said that Djourou suffered no fractures to his shoulder suggesting he may yet be fit enough to play a part in the Gunners title charge.

The centre-back, who has been in good form for the Gunners, was ruled out for the season on Saturday with a dislocated shoulder picked up during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Immediately after the game manager Arsene Wenger said there was no chance the 24-year-old would play any part in the final 10 games of the campaign.

The Gunners star fell awkwardly in a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna late in the match as Arsenal crashed out of their third cup competition in two weeks.

On Sunday, Djourou seemed to suggest that he was making good progress.

On Twitter, he wrote: “Many thanks for all your wishes. I am feeling today a little bit better. I have to wait and see how my shoulder is progressing. I will keep you updated.”

Djourou missed almost the entire 2009-10 campaign following knee surgery but has returned to be Arsenal’s most consistent performer in a back four beset by problems.

Thomas Vermaelen has missed the majority of the campaign with a long-standing achilles problem, while new signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci have failed to justify their place in the team on more than one occasion.