Tomas Rosicky out for up to three months as Wenger fears he could have played last Arsenal game

ByEurosport

Updated 05/02/2016 at 09:51 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that midfielder Tomas Rosicky could miss three months after suffering yet another injury setback - but hopes the Czech has not played his last game for the club.

Rosicky, making his first appearance of the season for the club in Saturday's FA Cup win over Burnley after overcoming a long-term knee injury, suffered a new thigh injury after just three minutes that forced him from the field.

And Wenger has now revealed that the 35-year-old suffered a ruptured thigh muscle in the incident, which is now set to rule him out for three months and could mark the end of his Arsenal career.

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"Rosicky's injury is quite a serious one," Wenger said at his Friday press conference. "He will not need surgery.

"It is a partial rupture of his tendon. It could be two or three months."

Burnley's Joey Barton (left) and Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky battle for the ball

Image credit: PA Photos

With the midfielder's contract up in the summer and almost certain not to be extended, it is possible that he has already played his last game for the club.

Wenger admitted as much, although he hopes that the veteran returns in time to make a few appearances at the end of the season - and prove his fitness ahead of this summer's European Championships.

“We are all shocked," Wenger added. "We hope it is not his last game."

Elsewhere there was some good news on the injury front for the Gunners, with Wenger confirming that forward Danny Welbeck is ready to step up his return with an appearance for the Under-21s on Friday.

"I believe he needs to play two or three games before he can come back into the first team,” Wenger warned. "He hasn’t played for ten months, so we have to be a bit patient with him.

"He has a good basic fitness, but it’s about competitiveness and decision making. We have to be a bit patient with him, he will need two or three games – he could be back in two or three weeks.”

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