Hleb set to miss Steaua trip
by Tom Adams, 29 September 2007
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alexander Hleb is likely to miss Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Steaua Bucharest as the result of an injury sustained in the club’s 1-0 win over West Ham.
The Belarus star was stretchered off the Upton Park pitch after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Hammers midfielder Mark Noble, who received a booking for the challenge as his side fell to defeat following Robin van Persie’s header.
Arsenal jet off to Romania for their second group game in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Hleb is unlikely to travel according to his manager.
"To me it looked very nasty, although I haven't seen it again,” said Wenger. "If it was an accident, it is a very bad accident, because if you see his leg it is unbelievable. It is red and bruised from the knee down to the toes.
"We are quite optimistic because Noble is usually a fair player. I don't know if it was an accident or not, but he caught him very well.
"I don't think Hleb will play on Tuesday because he cannot walk properly at the moment.”
However, striker Emmanuel Adebayor may well take some part in the Steaua game despite also being substituted following a kick to the leg in the second half.
Wenger added: "Adebayor had a kick on the thigh, and he looks like he has a good chance to play on Tuesday night."