Cech set to miss a month with injury

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to miss up to a month of action, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

The experienced 33-year-old damaged his calf when running back to his area late on Wednesday evening against Swansea City. Cech felt his calf and limped off the pitch, with Wenger immediately confirming that he would not feature on Saturday afternoon against north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

It appears now, however, after undergoing some tests, that the ex-Chelsea star will be out for much longer, as reported by Sky Sports News.

Cech will be three or four weeks with a calf injury.

It is a serious calf injury and he had a groin alert on the first goal and he could not kick the ball properly out because of his groin and maybe compensated a little too much and provoked another muscular injury.

We had to make the decision before the game because he had a little groin problem but he declared himself 100 per cent fit. Then you have to trust the player. He’s 33 years old and he knows his body. If he says he’s fit, then he is available.

It is like it is. I focus on the future. You want the players to be tough enough to sometimes be able to play through a little pain. You’re never completely perfect before a game in March.

The absence of Cech will come as a big blow to the Gunners’ title hopes, with them set for a difficult month ahead.

Cech is expected to miss games against Spurs, Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round replay, West Bromwich Albion, Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, Everton and Watford.

David Ospina is expected to fill in for the 33-year-old.