Gallas out for the season at Arsenal

Arsenal FC are counting the cost of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League draw at Villarreal CF after defender William Gallas was ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage.

'Big, big blow'
Gallas injured medial ligaments in his right knee during the second half of the 1-1 quarter-final first-leg draw in Spain, with Arsène Wenger confirming the extent of the problem today. The Arsenal manager told a news conference: "Gallas is a quick healer but we think he will be short to come back before the end of the season. It's a big, big blow."

'We lost three players'
Nor do the Gunners' injury troubles end there. With Villarreal due in north London next Wednesday, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has been counted out for three weeks with the ankle injury that forced his first-half substitution – by Łukasz Fabiański – at El Madrigal. In addition, left-back Gaël Clichy, who completed the game in Spain, hurt his back and faces a two-week lay-off. "We lost three players on Tuesday so we have to once again rely on the depth in the squad," added Wenger.

Rosický wait
Strikers Robin van Persie and Eduardo da Silva may be available for Saturday's Premier League match at Wigan Athletic FC despite groin niggles. However, Wenger reiterated that playmaker Tomáš Rosický, who has been sidelined all season, remains some way off a first-team comeback as he continues to struggle with a groin complaint. Arsenal, fourth in the English top flight, have until 28/29 April to get players ready for any UEFA Champions League semi-final, which would conclude a week later on 5/6 May.