Wenger hopes Fabregas only out for a fortnight

Arsene Wenger was optimistic Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas would be sidelined for just two weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered in the Gunners’ Champions League loss at Sporting Braga.

The Spain midfielder was withdrawn after 70 minutes in a match Arsenal surprisingly lost 2-0 in Portugal on Tuesday and Gunners boss Wenger told Arsenal TV online on Thursday: “Fabregas will be assessed today with a scan. After that, we can tell you how long he will be out, but I count two weeks.”

French manager Wenger said the 23-year-old’s latest injury would affect how Arsenal deployed Fabregas in future.

“It is a big blow because it will question how cautious we have to be in the future with him. Cesc has played 50 games a year since a young age.

“We may have to be more cautious with him, especially in the next two months,” Wenger added.

Emannuel Eboue, another Arsenal midfielder, was carried off on a stretcher on Tuesday following a knee injury and could be out for up to two months.

“It can be four weeks, can be six weeks or can be eight weeks. But I think it will be four weeks minimum,” Wenger said.

But there was better news regarding the fitness of the already-injured Aaron Ramsey and Manuel Almunia.

“We have a lot of bumps and bruises but everyone else should be available,” Wenger added ahead of Arsenal’s league match away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

“Almunia should be capable to play but I will see how he reacts.

“Ramsey needs competitive games. He played 45 minutes (in the reserves) and he did well.

“We need to get him slowly and progressively into competition mode.”