LONDON – Arsenal's Robin van Persie will be sidelined for three weeks because of a knee injury and will miss next week's Champions League match at Barcelona.
The Dutch forward was injured while scoring in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Birmingham in the League Cup final.
"Unfortunately, we had bad news on the scan and he will be out for the next three weeks for sure," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Tuesday. "It could be longer. The shortest delay we can imagine is three weeks. He is definitely out for Barcelona."
Theo Walcott also will miss the second-round, second-leg game at Barcelona next Tuesday after spraining an ankle last week. Wenger said captain Cesc Fabregas could return from a hamstring injury to face the Spanish champions.
"He is making quick and good progress," Wenger said.
While midfielder Alex Song will miss the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Leyton Orient on Wednesday due to a knee problem, Wenger said he has a "good chance" to play in Barcelona.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.