Petr Cech injury news: Arsenal boss confirms lengthy absence

Posted Saturday, March 05, 2016 by Caughtoffside.com

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has suggested that goalkeeper Petr Cech faces up to four weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury.

The former Chelsea ace suffered the issue during the closing stages of the loss to Swansea City at the Emirates on Wednesday night, as he raced back towards his own goal having gone up for a late corner in a bid to try and find an equaliser for his side.

After pulling up, Cech was visibly in discomfort, and so Wenger has been handed yet another blow as the pressure continues to build on him and his side to get their title bid back on track.

"Cech will be three or four weeks with a calf injury," he told reporters, as noted by Sky Sports. "It is a serious calf injury and he had a groin alert on the first goal and he could not kick the ball properly out because of his groin and maybe compensated a little too much and provoked another muscular injury.

"We had to make the decision before the game because he had a little groin problem but he declared himself 100 per cent fit. Then you have to trust the player. He’s 33 years old and he knows his body. If he says he’s fit then he is available.

"It is like it is. I focus on the future. You want the players to be tough enough to sometimes be able to play through a little pain. You’re never completely perfect before a game in March."

With David Ospina now set to come into the side, it is another unwanted concern for the French tactician as he looks to quieten the critics that have become louder in recent weeks.

Having now gone four games without a win in all competitions, Arsenal head to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham in the north London derby on Saturday knowing that another defeat could effectively end their title hopes.

The Gunners currently sit six points adrift of Premier League leaders Leicester City, while Spurs are three ahead and will be looking to bounce back from their loss to West Ham United in midweek.