Arsenal winger Theo Walcott could miss the Gunners’ Champions League clash against Barcelona with an ankle injury.
The young star was injured in a 50/50 challenge with Stoke City’s Dean Whitehead in Wednesday’s Premier League clash.
After being assessed by Arsenal’s medical staff, manager Arsene Wenger expects Walcott to be out for the next two-three weeks.
This will mean Walcott missing Sunday’s League Cup final against Birmingham, an FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient and league match against Sunderland.
But crucially it could put him out of Arsenal’s trip to the Nou Camp where they face Barcelona on March 8 in the second leg of their Champions League clash.
Arsenal will go into the tie with a two-one lead over the competition favourites following a brilliant comeback at the Emirates last week.
Wenger told reporters: “Walcott will be out for two to three weeks with an ankle problem.
“I would say today it is very unlikely he will be fit for the second leg of the Barcelona game.
“I imagine the worst so maybe I will be surprised in a positive way but I just give you my gut feeling at the moment.”
Walcott’s injury will be a brutal blow to the Gunners with Barcelona star man Lionel Messi admitting his team fear the England star and his scintillating pace.
