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Wenger not prepared to risk midfielder
Arsenal, 10:21, February 25, 2011
Arsene Wenger has ruled Cesc Fabregas out of Sunday's Carling Cup Final but the Arsenal captain is set to be fit to face Barcelona.
Fabregas is still hopeful that he can play some part in Sunday's showpiece event at Wembley against Birmingham after limping off after just 14 minutes of the 1-0 victory against Stoke on Wednesday night.
But Wenger wants his captain to be fully fit for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Barcelona on March 8 and is not prepared to risk him making the problem any worse.
The Gunners boss told Arsenal TV Online: "It is a very small injury but certainly Cesc will be out for Sunday.
"For how long [beyond that] I don't know, but definitely for Sunday.
"He is disappointed. We all feel sorry and sad for him. The only way we help him now is to win the Carling Cup as he contributed a lot in this competition."
Winger Theo Walcott will also miss the game and is expected to be sidelined for two weeks with a sprained ankle but Wenger has received better news about Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny with both players having recovered from injuries that ruled them out of the Stoke victory.
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Our el capitan,all gunnerz we are after you! Become well soon.