Injuries cloud Gunners title tilt

Arsene Wenger is facing an injury crisis that threatens to derail Arsenal's Premier League title challenge.

The Gunners extended their unbeaten run against north London rivals Tottenham to 21 games after Theo Walcott rescued a 1-1 draw in the League Cup semi-final first leg this morning.

But Wenger left the Emirates Stadium counting his walking wounded after Robin van Persie, Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou and Walcott were all injured.

Van Persie was forced off at half-time after suffering a thigh problem. The Dutch striker had been sidelined with a knee injury since October and Wenger will wait nervously for an exact diagnosis on Thursday.

Even more worrying for the Gunners manager were Senderos's knee ligament problem and Djourou's groin strain.

With Kolo Toure, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue on African Nations Cup duty, Wenger is short of defensive options as the title race hots up.

If Senderos and Djourou don't recover in time for Saturday's home game against Birmingham, the league leaders will be left with William Gallas as his only fit centre-back.

"We had no injuries before the game started but now we have lost three players and we have three at the African Nations Cup," he said.

"Basically we lost six players in two days. That is very difficult for us. Djourou came back from Birmingham with a groin problem. Senderos has a little medial knee ligament that he got in the first half.

"We have problems with the central defence. Who will play against Birmingham? Me?"

In the circumstances Wenger was satisfied to escape with a draw from a match that Tottenham dominated for long periods.

- AFP