Arsenal were plunged back into a defensive injury crisis ahead of the showdown with Chelsea as both Kieran Gibbs, with a fractured metatarsal, and William Gallas hobbled out of Tuesday`s 2-0 Champions League win over Standard Liege at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners responded from their lacklustre defeat to Sunderland with a comfortable victory which secured safe passage into the last 16 at the top of Group H ahead of the final match in Olympiacos after first-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson.
However, it came at a cost as centre-back Gallas went off at the break with a combination of an ankle problem and a lump above his eye following a clash of heads with Andrey Arshavin, which also left the Russian needing staples to close a bloody gash.
Gibbs, meanwhile, limped out during the closing stages following a hefty challenge from Eliaquim Mangala.
"Gallas has an ankle problem and a swollen eye. I think he will recover from the eye, and from the ankle we hope so [in time for Chelsea]," said Wenger, speaking immediately after the match."Gibbs is much more serious. "It was a very bad challenge, and it was not the player's first try.
"We have to X-ray him and I think he has gone to hospital to check because he has a big hole in his leg. He doesn't look too good, and that is unfortunate."
