Arteta Blow For Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with ankle ligament damage, leaving Arsene Wenger with selection issues in midfield for the derby against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Yossi Benayoun, who is on loan from Stamford Bridge, is ineligible to face his parent club and, with Jack Wilshere out for the season and Abou Diaby short of full fitness, despite taking part in a training ground friendly against Oman on Wednesday, Wenger has little scope for manoeuvre.

Aaron Ramsey is expected to come in for Arteta alongside Alex Song, with Tomas Rosicky continuing in the number 10 role and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Gervinho starting on the left. Wenger has to hope that Diaby will be fit enough for the substitutes’ bench or his options will be restricted in a game that he described as “massive and vital”.

Its importance has been heightened in the wake of Arsenal’s shock 2-1 home defeat by Wigan Athletic Monday night. Were Arsenal to lose to Chelsea, they would surrender control of their destiny in terms of a Champions League finish, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in a position to overhaul them. No one at Arsenal can countenance that, particularly after their Premier League revival which began in February.

Going into the Wigan game, they had won nine out of 10 matches in the competition, with the blip coming in the 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers. Yet they were second best against Wigan as their defending was dismal; their attacking game flat in the second half, and the injury to Arteta added to the frustration.