Football Corner

Geal Clichy has been ruled out of action for up to 4 months following confirmation that he has suffered a stress fracture in his foot. Clichy picked up the injury during France's under 21 qualifier against England last Friday. "The story is that Gael will need surgery," manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's website. "Ashley is five weeks away and Gael is three to four months away." Wenger now faces a problem of trying to fill his left-back berth. "The quite remarkable thing, in a negative way, is that he has the same problem as Ashley Cole," added the Frenchman.

"It is terrible for the boy, we feel really bad for him. For us it is hard to take as well because we have no left backs who are really comfortable in that position." Arsenal have allowed a possible replacement, Justin Hoyte, to go on a season-long loan to Sunderland. Hoyte is normally a right-back but has been playing on the opposite flank for the Black Cats. With Hoyte on loan, other options appear to be moving central defenders Pascal Cygan or Kolo Toure over to left-back or asking Emmanuel Eboue, who is predominantly a right-sided player, to shift flanks.

Bad bad news for all you Gunners fans because it looks as though you ain't gonna have a left back for Saturday's game against Wigan. Clichy has done very well since replacing Cole at left-back and this is a real shame for him that he couldn't go on and make a big name for himself. I would probably say that Arsene Wenger is one of the most unhappiest men at the moment because it was on international duty that Clichy picked up the injury.