THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s gamble on the fitness of Cesc Fabregas may have backfired after the Spain midfielder sustained a suspected broken leg that could end his season and rule him out of the World Cup.
Wenger started Fabregas in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona after he passed a late fitness test on a knee injury.
The gamble looked to have paid off when Fabregas scored a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw but the Gunners captain left Emirates Stadium on crutches after again getting hurt.
"We have to wait for tomorrow, but I hope I can wear the Arsenal shirt again this season," Fabregas said. "I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something.
"I do not think it is going to be good news, but still I hope there will be."
Fabregas said he thinks he damaged his fibula when he was fouled for his equalizing penalty and then hitting the kick with so much force.
"When I took the penalty, I was quite strong, but after when I went to get the ball, I could not walk any more," Fabregas said.
Fabregas was preparing to shoot when his legs got tangled with those of defender Carles Puyol, who was challenging him from behind.
The referee ruled that it was a foul and sent off Puyol. Fabregas got to his feet and hit the kick down the middle of the goal as Victor Valdes dived to his left.
Wenger wanted to take Fabregas off the field for the final moments but had already used all three substitutes in his team’s comeback from 2-0 down.
"I cannot give you any report yet. I’ve not spoken to the medical people," Wenger said. "I couldn’t change anybody, I had to leave him on even though I wanted to take him off.
"In any case, he wanted to stay on."
Fabregas will miss next week’s second-leg match at Camp Nou even if the injury proves to be minor. He picked up a yellow card for fouling Sergio Busquets and is suspended.
Wenger acknowledged it was a risk to play Fabregas just four days after he was hurt in the English Premier League but said the 22-year-old midfielder insisted he was fit to face the club where he began his career.
"You have to trust how the player feels," Wenger said.
Fabregas is Arsenal’s leading scorer this season with 19 goals in 36 matches from central midfield.
A prolonged absence would severely threaten Arsenal’s surprise challenge for the Premier League title and could even have an impact on Spain’s attempt to add the World Cup title to its European Championship.
Arsenal is third in the Premier League, just four points behind leader and defending champion Manchester United, while Spain kicks off its World Cup against Switzerland on June 16 in Durban.
Wenger’s problems don’t end there, with injuries to William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin.
Gallas returned to the Arsenal side for the first time in seven weeks but the France defender was carried off with a calf injury in the 45th minute. Arshavin departed in the 27th.
"He will be out for a while now," Wenger said of Gallas. "I took a gamble and it did not pay off. I can say now I regret that. Arshavin is the same. He’s done his calf."