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
Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon named in England Under-21 squad
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's Theo Walcott faces shoulder surgery after injury on England duty
The Arsenal winger returned to London on Wednesday morning from England’s base in Berlin and immediately had a scan after being assessed by the club’s medical staff.
His shoulder was said to feel stiff and he saw a specialist last night to discuss whether to have surgery.
There was a strong feeling that an operation was the best course of action, given the potential for recurring dislocations. He is now expected to go under the knife within the next 48 hours and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday night he expected the player to be out for three months.
Walcott’s injury is to his right shoulder, but he has also had surgery on his left, and there is an acceptance that there has been a weakness in that area of his body.
Previously, he attempted to continue playing through the pain of successive dislocations, after suffering the initial problem way back in 2005 when Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus landed on top of him during a reserve team game for Southampton.
The 19-year-old had a separation of his collarbone and left shoulder and had an operation to correct the hereditary problem last year. His left shoulder became dislocated as many as 20 times before it was decided to undergo surgery, but since then it has given him no problems.
There is, therefore, confidence that surgery on his right shoulder would also cure the problem, with a feeling that it might be better to have the problem dealt with as soon as possible. Earlier this month Walcott was taken off on a stretcher during Arsenal’s defeat at Stoke following a heavy fall.
Walcott, though, will digest all the medical advice before making a final decision.
The dislocation to his right shoulder was suffered after a challenge from Scott Parker in the dying minutes of England’s training session on Tuesday, ahead of the team's friendly with Germany.
Walcott’s absence will leave Wenger’s squad threadbare at a crucial point in their season. Bacary Sagna, Emmanuel Eboue, Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky are all on the treatment table for varying lengths of time. Given the comparatively small squad of senior players at the Emirates, adding Walcott to that list will be a heavy blow.
With a faltering Premier League title challenge to sustain and their place in the last 16 of the Champions League still far from certain, Wenger now faces a test of the faith he has in his fabled youngsters.
Only Samir Nasri of Arsenal’s first choice wide players is fit, meaning Wenger would have to consider throwin either Abou Diaby or Alex Song in as replacements. Alternatively he could give a starting role to Aaron Ramsey, the 18-year-old Welshman, or Jack Wilshere, the prodigy two years his junior who has done so well in the Carling Cup for the club.
The better news for England regarding Walcott is that the next game is not until a friendly in February followed by competitive matches in April and June against Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
What is a dislocated shoulder?
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint prone to instability, and it poses a particular concern for Theo Walcott, who has a hereditary problem. He dislocated his right shoulder in training in Berlin, but also had to have his left shoulder pinned in 2007. When he fell on it in the recent game at Stoke, he suffered spasms.
When the shoulder is rotated outwards – cocking your arm back – any extra force, such as the fall suffered by Walcott, can pop the humerus bone out of the joint. This is known as anterior dislocation.
How do you fix it?
As was the case with Walcott, a doctor must put the joint back into place immediately. The shoulder should then be immobilised in a sling for two to three weeks before a period of physiotherapy to build strength in the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder. Doctors recommend sporting activity should be avoided for around six weeks to allow the injury time to heal.
Why does it take so long to heal?
The bone might go back in immediately but the ligaments around the bone are normally torn, while the shoulder cartilage and the fibrous capsule enclosing the joint could also be damaged. Recurring dislocations are likely because these structures, once damaged, never regain their original strength. Surgery is normally recommended after four dislocations.
Arsenal to open contract talks with Theo Walcott over £3m-a-year contract
Anxious to keep his blossoming prodigy, manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly prepared to double Walcott's salary to £60,000-a-week, say the News of the World, as interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid continues to grow.
With only 18 months left on his contract it is likely a deal will be fast-tracked, but with Walcott admitting he is happy where he is, Wenger will not be too concerned about the 19-year-old jumping ship.
Walcott signed for Arsenal in 2006 from Southampton with a price tag of £12m and the last few months have seen him transform into one of the club's star assets.
Aside from his remarkable performances for Arsenal, he also turned heads when he became England's youngest international to score a hat-trick in their 2010 World Cup qualifier against Croatia.
Further good news for Arsenal and Wenger is that Robin van Persie looks likely to rebuff interest from Italy in order to pledge his future to the club.
The Dutchman is said to want his salary doubled to £80,000-a-week. Van Persie joined Arsenal in a £3m deal back in 2004 and has scored 33 goals in 97 appearances for the club.(Telegraph)
