Cesc Fabregas to sit out match against Shakhtar Donetsk
Spanish international midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, will not take part in Arsenal's Champions League match against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, 3 November, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed.
The decision to leave Fabregas out of the lineup is viewed as precautionary and the 23-year-old is not expected to miss any significant amount of time and should be ready when Arsenal face Newcastle on
Sunday.
Fabregas has recently been suffering from a hamstring injury and, with Arsenal achieving three comfortable wins from its first three games in the Champions League, not taking part in Wednesday's Champions
League match will give him a chance to fully recuperate.
Speaking at a morning press conference, Wenger commented on the situation.
"It’s a mixture of cautiousness and pain in his hamstring. It’s too risky and we cannot take the gamble. I think he has a good chance to play on Sunday but tomorrow night
will be too risky.
"We cannot take a gamble because he has had injuries before. It is not a strain, he is just a little reluctant to push fully."
Fabregas had previously competed in two of Arsenal's three Champions League matches and leads the team with three goals.
Fabregas is not the only injury which Wenger has had to contend with as he prepares for Wednesday's contest. Alex Song has been dealing with an injury to his calf, Denilson
has a lingering groin problem, while Andrey Arshavin has been battling with an injury as well.
"Those four players are the concern," Wenger said. "The only player out [as of now] is Cesc Fabregas. The other three will be assessed later."
Arsenal are top of their group and have scored more goals in the Champions League so far than any other team. Donetsk are currently in second place in group H with six points from three games.
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