Kieran Gibbs is out for three months after breaking a metatarsal in the last minute of Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League victory over Standard Liege.

After the match, which saw Arsenal qualify from the first stage for the 10th successive season, Arsene Wenger said: "Gibbs has a big hole in his leg.

"It was a very bad challenge by the No 22 and it was not his first try, unfortunately. It doesn't look good for Gibbs."

Tonight Arsenal.com revealed: "Wenger's worst fears were confirmed shortly afterwards following X-rays."

Arsenal fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin recover from a clash of heads before Chelsea visit Emirates Stadium for the crucial Premier League match-up on Sunday.

Wenger expects both to be available but while Arshavin completed the match, Gallas departed at half time with a heavily swollen eye obscuring his vision.

Chelsea could be forgiven for licking their lips ahead of Sunday as Arsenal's season appears to be hitting a few road bumps at precisely the wrong time.

Before this week the game would have been billed as the meeting of an irresistible force against an immovable object.

But following a sudden spate of injuries - Robin Van Persie's ankle ligament damage being the most significant - and Saturday's defeat to Sunderland, Arsenal will need to rise above a fair amount of adversity against most people's choice for champions-elect.

Gibbs missed that game in the North East with a bruised ankle sustained on England duty with the under 21s, and replaced Armand Traore, who is now likely to resume the role at left back on Sunday.

Chelsea will be missing Frank Lampard, but Didier Drogba - the serial scourge of Arsenal - looks set to return to the fold for the Blues' Champions League match tomorrow.

Arsenal fans won't mind if he needs a wee bit more time.

Up front for the Gunners, Carlos Vela was picked ahead of Eduardo, an unused sub against Liege, while Theo Walcott made his second consecutive substitute appearance.

All of which should at least keep Carlo Ancelotti guessing as to which three-pronged attack Wenger will start with come Sunday.