Arsene Wenger said Theo Walcott was "completely distraught" and "shocked" as he awaited the outcome on Saturday of a scan on a mystery knee injury suffered after training on Friday.
After returning earlier this month following three months out with a shoulder injury, the England winger faces the prospect of another five weeks out.
And Wenger admitted he was equally perplexed by another potentially serious injury to be suffered by one of his key players. Wenger, also without Emmanuel Adebayor, Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas at Newcastle on Saturday evening said: "I am distraught and he is completely distraught.
"He was walking off the pitch and he felt his right knee lock up and it started to swell. He is strong mentally. But I found him really shocked and we're a bit surprised and worried because he was in very good form coming back. That's very bad news for us. If it is a cartilage, he will be out three weeks minimum, five to play, that means the beginning of May."
Walcott, who faces the prospect of missing the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea as well as the Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal, damaged his shoulder on England duty in November and returned only this month as a substitute against Burnley in the Cup.
Following another appearance off the bench, in the penalty shoot-out victory in Rome, he started for the first time in last Saturday's 4-0 win over Blackburn, and kept his place in Tuesday's FA Cup win over Hull.
"He gives us qualities that are different from other players," admitted Wenger. "He's direct, and he has the timing to go behind [players]. He is an interesting quality in the team and when you play from one second to the next you are on the other side of the pitch with him, so it is a loss."
Fabregas is also missing tonight but the captain will continue to support his team-mates from behind the bench despite the controversy surrounding him and allegations that he spat at the feet of Brian Horton, Hull's assistant manager, on Tuesday.
Wenger said: "I will not change anything. Why? You want the team spirit, you want the players to be together, you want the players who do not play to be happy, as well, and to share it with the players who played.
"He's the club captain, he denies categorically the incident, we are open to any inquiry, what can I say more?"
Arsenal are fourth and unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games and Wenger believes they can maintain their progress: "I'm confident, of course, but we know what has changed in two weeks. We go to Newcastle who are fighting to stay in the Premier League.
"Our only advantage is that we have prepared ourselves mentally to give absolutely everything in every game. The hunger, spirit and desire is there." (telegraph)
Arsenal's Theo Walcott 'distraught' at new injury
Arsenal's Theo Walcott suffers injury setback
Theo Walcott is out of Arsenal's trip to Newcastle this weekend after locking his knee during Arsenal training. He will also miss England's Under-21s game against Norway in a friendly.
The England winger, 20 on Monday, has just returned from three months out with a shoulder injury. But Wenger said: “The bad news for us is that Walcott got injured today in training.
“He has a scan on his knee today. We are a bit surprised and worried. He was in good form coming back.
“I won’t say he’s out for the season but he’s out of our game at Newcastle and for England. He will have a scan and we will know more later about how long he will be out.”
It is a massive blow for Arsenal who have suffered from a succession of injuries this season, with the news clouding the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which acted favourably for Arsenal, with a tie against the Spaniards of Villarreal.
Arsenal met Villarreal on their way to the final, in 2006, beating them 1-0 over two-legs in the semi-final before losing to fellow Spaniards Barcelona in the final in Spain.
Of the draw Wenger said: “It’s 50 50; Villarreal we know, maybe it’s good to play the first leg away from home but it will depend on the quality of our performance and who is available, because many players go away on international duty and we don’t know how they come back.”
Regarding another quarter-final, that pits Chelsea and Liverpool together for the fourth year in succession, Wenger added: “Chelsea and Liverpool is 50-50 as well. It’s down to one goal or half a goal sometimes, so it is very open.”
Regarding the alleged incident involving captain Cesc Fabregas and Brian Horton, the Hull assistant manager on Monday, Wenger was still firmly behind his player today. Hull manager Phil Brown claimed Fabregas, recovering from injury, spat at the feet of Horton.
“I have spoken to Cesc and he denies categorically what has been asserted by Hull and we are open to any investigation from the FA and will co-operate fully.” (telegraph)
The England winger, 20 on Monday, has just returned from three months out with a shoulder injury. But Wenger said: “The bad news for us is that Walcott got injured today in training.
“He has a scan on his knee today. We are a bit surprised and worried. He was in good form coming back.
“I won’t say he’s out for the season but he’s out of our game at Newcastle and for England. He will have a scan and we will know more later about how long he will be out.”
It is a massive blow for Arsenal who have suffered from a succession of injuries this season, with the news clouding the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which acted favourably for Arsenal, with a tie against the Spaniards of Villarreal.
Arsenal met Villarreal on their way to the final, in 2006, beating them 1-0 over two-legs in the semi-final before losing to fellow Spaniards Barcelona in the final in Spain.
Of the draw Wenger said: “It’s 50 50; Villarreal we know, maybe it’s good to play the first leg away from home but it will depend on the quality of our performance and who is available, because many players go away on international duty and we don’t know how they come back.”
Regarding another quarter-final, that pits Chelsea and Liverpool together for the fourth year in succession, Wenger added: “Chelsea and Liverpool is 50-50 as well. It’s down to one goal or half a goal sometimes, so it is very open.”
Regarding the alleged incident involving captain Cesc Fabregas and Brian Horton, the Hull assistant manager on Monday, Wenger was still firmly behind his player today. Hull manager Phil Brown claimed Fabregas, recovering from injury, spat at the feet of Horton.
“I have spoken to Cesc and he denies categorically what has been asserted by Hull and we are open to any investigation from the FA and will co-operate fully.” (telegraph)
Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon named in England Under-21 squad
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon have both been named in England's Under-21 squad for the friendly double header against Norway and France during the next international break.
Walcott, who is established in Fabio Capello's senior squad, has only just recovered from a shoulder injury picked up with the full team in November.
The 20-year-old could still be called up for senior duty, as happened with James Milner for the recent Spain trip after initially being named in Stuart Pearce's squad.
Capello's team have a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday, March 28 and a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine the following Wednesday, with Pearce's youngsters playing the day before each game.
Milner is also in Pearce's squad, who travel to face Norway in Sandefjord before playing France at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.
Joe Hart, Michael Mancienne, Micah Richards and David Wheater are also included along with Lennon, who has been in impressive form for Tottenham and had been widely expected to be handed a senior call-up.
Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is also selected.
"We wanted to take on a Scandinavian side as we've got Finland in the European Championships so Norway was a good option," Pearce said.
"On top of that we wanted another 'A-line' nation that hadn't reached the finals and they don't come much better than France, so it's a fantastic game for us.
"The two games will give us a full 10 days to work together. We can work on various things, both in the games and on the training pitch.
"It's not often you get the chance to have that length of time with the players and it'll be a vital period to prepare for the summer." (telegraph)
Walcott, who is established in Fabio Capello's senior squad, has only just recovered from a shoulder injury picked up with the full team in November.
The 20-year-old could still be called up for senior duty, as happened with James Milner for the recent Spain trip after initially being named in Stuart Pearce's squad.
Capello's team have a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday, March 28 and a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine the following Wednesday, with Pearce's youngsters playing the day before each game.
Milner is also in Pearce's squad, who travel to face Norway in Sandefjord before playing France at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.
Joe Hart, Michael Mancienne, Micah Richards and David Wheater are also included along with Lennon, who has been in impressive form for Tottenham and had been widely expected to be handed a senior call-up.
Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is also selected.
"We wanted to take on a Scandinavian side as we've got Finland in the European Championships so Norway was a good option," Pearce said.
"On top of that we wanted another 'A-line' nation that hadn't reached the finals and they don't come much better than France, so it's a fantastic game for us.
"The two games will give us a full 10 days to work together. We can work on various things, both in the games and on the training pitch.
"It's not often you get the chance to have that length of time with the players and it'll be a vital period to prepare for the summer." (telegraph)
Arsenal confirm compensation claim for Walcott's England duty shoulder injury
Arsenal have confirmed they will demand compensation from the FA's insurers after Theo Walcott picked up an injury on international duty with England.
The winger is expected to be out for three months after dislocating his right shoulder in training on the eve of England's 2-1 friendly win over Germany in Berlin.
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: 'There should be compensation of course.'
Under the FA's insurance plan, the Barclays Premier League club would be eligible to claim up to £1.1million to cover Walcott's wages if he was to be out for 12 weeks.
The FA's insurers will pay up to £100,000 per week but will only cover his wages.
Under the FA's insurance deal, Arsenal can claim Walcott's wages up to a maximum of £50,000 for the first two weeks that he is absent, and £100,000 per week thereafter up to a maximum period of almost two years.
Earlier this week, an FA spokesman said: 'The FA is one of only a handful of national associations who voluntarily insure our players against injury while on international duty. Almost all foreign international players who play for English clubs will not have been insured in this way.' (dailymail)
The winger is expected to be out for three months after dislocating his right shoulder in training on the eve of England's 2-1 friendly win over Germany in Berlin.
Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: 'There should be compensation of course.'
Under the FA's insurance plan, the Barclays Premier League club would be eligible to claim up to £1.1million to cover Walcott's wages if he was to be out for 12 weeks.
The FA's insurers will pay up to £100,000 per week but will only cover his wages.
Under the FA's insurance deal, Arsenal can claim Walcott's wages up to a maximum of £50,000 for the first two weeks that he is absent, and £100,000 per week thereafter up to a maximum period of almost two years.
Earlier this week, an FA spokesman said: 'The FA is one of only a handful of national associations who voluntarily insure our players against injury while on international duty. Almost all foreign international players who play for English clubs will not have been insured in this way.' (dailymail)
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