English Premiership
Fabregas to miss Hull clash
2010-03-11 18:18
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London - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is set to miss Saturday's Premier League clash at Hull with a hamstring injury.
Fabregas suffered the injury in the first half of last weekend's victory over Burnley and was ruled out of the midweek Champions League victory over Porto as a result.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had rated the Spain midfielder's chances of facing Hull as 50-50, but his creative talisman looks certain to absent from the trip to the KC Stadium.
Wenger also has fitness doubts over Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who has a groin strain, and French defender Bacary Sagna, who has an ankle problem.
"At the moment, Cesc is out of Saturday's game," Wenger said on Thursday. "His chances of playing are 0.5 percent - that means unless a miracle happens, he will not play.
"We have a little doubt about Tomas Rosicky, who has a groin injury, but we will check that on Friday morning.
"Nobody else is back, but we will lose Alex Song because he is suspended.
"Sagna has an ankle problem and we will assess that. We know we have 48 hours to prepare for this game and it is quite needed."
Wenger's side, who are just two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, will also be without France defender William Gallas as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
Gallas is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to talk to any clubs, with Roma reported to be tracking the 33-year-old.
Wenger admits he doesn't know if Roma have made contact with Gallas but he is confident the former Chelsea centre-back will remain at the Emirates Stadium.
"I am not concerned. He is under contract until June 30. We have not found an agreement yet. I meet his agents again next Thursday and we will try to find a solution," Wenger said.
"I would like to keep all that secret. I feel I have to respect both parties and not to come out about the details of negotiations.
"I do not know if he has spoken to Roma, but he is out of contract and can talk to whom he wants.
"William is speaking to us and our desire is to keep him here. I think he wants to stay here."
Arsenal and Hull were fined by the English Football Association for failing to control their players during the match at the Emirates just before Christmas, when there was a mass brawl after Gunners midfielder Samir Nasri appeared to tread on Richard Garcia's foot.
Tigers manager Phil Brown blasted Wenger for refusing to shake his hand after that game, but the Gunners boss insists there is no bad blood between the clubs.
"We don't make a special fuss of anything, we just try to play football," he said. "I respect everybody in life, and I don't make any special issue of that.
"We have to focus on what is the most important, which is that the people who pay to come to watch a football game get something for their money. That is what we always try to do.
"We do not focus on bad blood. We just focus on our game and try to play well. In fact, if you look at what happened - there was not a lot.
"Nobody has been injured, there was a little brawl at some stage where we got punished, them as well, but the game was not dirty."
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