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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of the Carling Cup soccer final tomorrow with a hamstring injury.
The match kicks-off at 6pm.
The midfielder picked up the problem in the 1-0 win over Stoke on Wednesday and joins Theo Walcott on the sidelines for the Wembley final against Birmingham.
“It is a very small injury but certainly Cesc will be out tomorrow,” said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. “For how long (beyond that) I don’t know.”
Robin van Persie, Laurent Koscielny and Abou Diaby are expected to be fit.
The trio missed the Stoke game with hamstring, back and calf problems respectively, although Diaby was also suspended, but Wenger said all three would be available.
Fabregas inspired Arsenal to a blistering start at the Emirates on Wednesday but left the field after just 14 minutes to be replaced by Andrey Arshavin.
“He is disappointed,” added Wenger. “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.”
Wenger would not be drawn on whether the Spanish 23-year-old would be fit in time to face Barcelona on 8 March.
“It is very difficult to give a deadline,” he said. “It is impossible.”
Winger Walcott will also miss the final after being carried off on a stretcher in the Stoke game and Wenger revealed he is a doubt for the trip to Barcelona.
“He has a classic ankle sprain,” said the manager. “We don’t think there is any more damage to it, but it is still a sprain.
“We are sad for him too. He is out for Sunday and maybe one or two weeks more.”
The French boss said there were no other fitness problems as the club go looking for their first piece of silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2005.
Meanwhile, Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome believes all the pressure is on Arsenal ahead of their Carling Cup final clash at Wembley tomorrow.
The Gunners have gone without a trophy for the past six years, with their last victory coming in the FA Cup in 2005 against Manchester United.
Jerome accepts that their opponents will be overwhelming favourites to finally end their barren run and take a trophy back to London.
However, he is hopeful that their mission in competing for all four major prizes this season will take its toll and Birmingham, who have caused upsets since their promotion to the English Premier League, can take advantage.
Jerome said: “Will the lack of trophies put pressure on them? I think it is going to.
“They are overwhelming favourites and everyone is writing us off outside of our camp.
“That is going to add the pressure on them, and also them not winning a trophy for a while.
“They had a league game on Wednesday (against Stoke), have a narrow lead in the Champions League against Barcelona, and have also got an FA Cup replay.
“They are in a lot of competitions so hopefully we can catch them slipping. – BBC Sport.
Online Reporter