12 Apr 2009

Arsenal defender Gallas out for rest of the season

12:19 pm on 12 April 2009

Arsenal defender William Gallas will be out for the rest of the season after being injured against Villarreal in last week's Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed to reporters that the knee ligament damage Gallas suffered during his side's 1-1 draw at Villarreal meant he would play no further part in Arsenal's assault on the Champions League and FA Cup trophies.

Arsenal will also be without goalkeeper Manuel Almunia for three weeks due to an ankle injury which he suffered in the Villareal match in a collision while full-back Gael Clichy will miss two weeks with a back injury.

Almunia's absence means that second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who replaced Almunia after 27 minutes in Spain, will have an extended run in the team for the first time this season.