Theo out, Cesc a doubt for final

Posted Friday, February 25, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

Theo out, Cesc a doubt for final
THAT'S COTT TO HURT ... Theo reels with an injury that led to him being carried off

THEO WALCOTT is OUT of Sunday's Carling Cup final.

And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger learns today whether skipper Cesc Fabregas will join the England winger on the sidelines.

Both stars were crocked as the Gunners scraped past Stoke to close Manchester United's lead at the top of the Prem to a point.

Wenger, whose side face Birmingham at Wembley, said: "Walcott has an ankle sprain and is out on Sunday. For how long I cannot tell you.

"Fabregas has a hamstring problem. We will assess that tomorrow.

"Tonight it is impossible to say how serious it is."

Fabregas, 23, who has been plagued by hamstring trouble all season, limped off in the 14th minute - while Walcott was carried off on a stretcher after a 70th-minute clash with the Potters' Dean Whitehead.

Last night, Fabregas tweeted: "I don't know if I'll make Sunday or not but all I know is that from this moment to Sunday I won't sleep if it's necessary.

"I've waited too long to captain a final with Arsenal & I won't give up until the last second."

Wenger added: "It is of course a concern Fabregas is injured but it can happen, unfortunately. He was very upset. I am as well. It is not his fault, it is not my fault, it is part of sport.

"It's strange that it happened so early in the game but we have to face it."

Sebastien Squillaci's eighth-minute header earned Arsenal the win and Wenger said: "We did the job in a very professional way.

"We were intelligent, calm, patient and resilient. The game was massive for us and the three points were important.

"I couldn't believe we scored with a header against Stoke."

Potters boss Tony Pulis said: "In the first 10 minutes they could have been out of sight. We were like rabbits in headlights in every phase of play."

Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross was booed by home fans following his leg-breaking challenge on Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey 12 months ago.

Pulis added: "You can't stop people's perceptions. But we've actually got a better disciplinary record than Arsenal."