Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin out for 4 weeks

Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin out for 4 weeks

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Arsenal have received a big blow ahead of their crucial match against Manchester United at Old Trafford with Hector Bellerin being ruled out for four weeks with an injury. The Gunners will also have to hold their breath on the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who will be assessed ahead of the game.

“Hector is out for four weeks. He got injured in the last 10 seconds against Spurs after a very strong tackle by Danny Rose,” Arsene Wenger told the reporters in a press conference.

Arsenal will also be without their star midfielder Santi Cazorla, who is battling an Achilles injury. Wenger has refused to predict a return date for the Spaniard. He said, “Cazorla is still out. I don’t know exactly how long for. He’s still not even out in training yet.”

Another big injury scare for the Gunners is the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who played for Chile despite nursing a hamstring injury. However, the former Barcelona star had texted Wenger that he is in ‘good shape’ after appearing in the international fixture.

"I haven’t heard a lot [about his fitness] because we were in doubt 24 hours before the game against Uruguay.

"We didn’t know if he’d play or not. In the end they decided to play him. He texted us to tell us he’s in good shape after the game. He came off after 84 minutes and now we have to wait. I see him tomorrow morning and then I will see if he can be involved in the squad or not.

"What I will consider is the risk of injury because he played while recovering from a hamstring injury. I’ll consider the way he feels as well. On that front you depend on the honesty of the player, how they feel and how they recover."

"You have to trust the medical people from Chile. I completely understand that Alexis wanted to play in qualifiers - they’re not friendlies. Chile are not in a fantastic position to qualify for the World Cup and I understand that Alexis is keen to play for his country in such an important game. 

"After that, [for us] it’s a difficult period in November because it’s the first time when some of the players have played many games. Most of the time it’s a decisive period in the Champions League because it’s game No 5 and, for most of the clubs it’s a very important time in the Champions League. 

"In the Premier League, the first decisive games are also coming up so you have to pay a price. We lost important players in November for long periods last year," Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.

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