wenger cesc doubtful for chelsea

Arsene Wenger today revealed
Cesc Fabregas was unlikely to be fit
in time for Arsenal's crunch clash
with Chelsea on Sunday.
Gunners captain Fabregas has been
sidelined with a hamstring injury for
almost two weeks and has been
left out of the Spain squad for the
upcoming European Championship
qualifiers against Scotland and
Lithuania.
Asked about the likelihood of
Fabregas returning for this
weekend's Barclays Premier
League trip to Stamford Bridge,
manager Wenger told Arsenal TV
Online: "I don't know. It looks a
50-50 but a 50-50 balancing on the
negative side. I will find out on
Saturday morning."
One headache the Gunners boss
could be spared is over the
goalkeeping position after
revealing Manuel Almunia was
even less likely to be fit than
Fabregas.
Almunia suffered an elbow injury
during last weekend's shock defeat
to West Brom, while understudy
Lukasz Fabianski shone in Tuesday
night's Champions League win at
Partizan Belgrade.
Wenger said of Almunia's
availability: "That one is even more
difficult. He has not been in a
regular training session. So I will
see."
Abou Diaby will be in the squad but
may not start following his ankle
problem, but Thomas Vermaelen
(Achilles) remains sidelined.
"Vermaelen - no," Wenger said.
"Abou Diaby has an 80% chance to
be involved. I am not sure if he will
be completely 100% but it is 100%
he will be in the squad."
Meanwhile, there was positive
news about two of Arsenal's long-
term injury victims. Wenger said:
"Nicklas Bendtner (groin) should be
available after the international
break. And Aaron Ramsey (broken
leg) is progressing very well.