Arsenal will go into the defining week of their season with a patchwork defence after Arsene Wenger revealed a triple injury blow last night. Wenger's worst fears were confirmed by a scan which showed former Gunners skipper William Gallas will miss the rest of the campaign with torn medial knee ligaments.
And Le Professeur's setback was compounded by the news that goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) and full-back Gael Clichy (back) will also be out of next week's Champions League return against Villarreal and the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea at Wembley.
Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy in the winter, sparked fears he had made his last appearance in an Arsenal shirt when he was carried off in Spain on Tuesday night.
But manager Wenger reassured fans that the French international defender will remain at Ashburton Grove, saying: "He has had a challenging season, but he has shown his ability to cope with major disappointment. He has a year left on his contract so I envisage him being here next season, no question.
"You have to give him credit for the way he has come back with some great performances over the past two or three months and he has turned up with important goals in some big games. That has been a good surprise.
"Gallas doesn't need an operation, but he has a grade two tear in his medial knee ligament - how they measure the grades I don't know.
"Cesc Fabregas had a grade two tear as well, and he was out for almost four months. Although for Gallas the damage is less severe, and he is usually quick to recover, the end of the season will come too soon for him."
Wenger was frustrated to lose three first-team regulars in one night after being forced to battle since Christmas without Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor for long spells.
