Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs suffers suspected metatarsal fracture

Arsene Wenger was last night dealt another devastating injury blow after Kieran Gibbs was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken metatarsal.

Gibbs limped out of England under-21’s goalless draw in Lithuania yesterday and was immediately taken for X-rays. If the worst fears are confirmed, the left-back could be out for up to three months.

It is another hammer blow for Arsenal boss Wenger, who has already lost Robin van Persie for up to three months after the Dutch striker ruptured ankle ligaments in Holland's friendly with Italy at the weekend.

They are already without Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner who is out until the New Year with groin damage while first-choice Gael Clichy is already out after a stress fracture in his lower back.

Wenger's injury problems are mounting with Brazilian midfielder Denilson out with a back problem while Abou Diaby is set to miss Saturday's trip to Sunderland after being made to report for France even though he had a calf injury.

But the latest injury blow to Gibbs is made even worse because Clichy is out and it may leave Wenger with no option but to use Bacary Sagna as a makeshift-left back and Emmanuel Eboue on the opposite side.

Gibbs will also be devastated as he is on Fabio Capello's radar as a player who has a chance of forcing his way into the World Cup squad. The England boss is keen for him to get regular games for Arsenal.

But Gibbs was left in agony after limping off in Vilnius after just 21 minutes. Ryan Bertrand replaced him while Gibbs was taken to hospital.

And despite under-21s boss Stuart Pearce saying it was an ankle injury, Gibbs was last night having X-rays on his foot to see whether a metatarsal had been fractured.

It is another hammer blow for Wenger who had already admitted that "nasty November" would decide whether his team could sustain a title challenge depending on whether his squad was hit by injuries.

But it appears that Wenger's worst fears have been realised and the latest blow for Gibbs means that Arsenal's resources will be severely stretched in the race for the title with Chelsea and Manchester United.