Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs breaks bone in left foot

LONDON (AP)—Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs will undergo surgery on Wednesday after breaking a bone in his left foot following a tackle in the Champions League match against Standard Liege.

Gibbs will be sidelined for around three months, Arsenal said on its Web site. After the challenge from Eliaqium Mangala moments before the final whistle on Tuesday, Gibbs hobbled off the pitch. He’d just returned after bruising an ankle with the England Under-21s last week.

He is Arsenal’s backup left back and had been playing regularly since the first choice in that position, Gael Clichy, sustained a stress fracture to his back this month.

“Gibbs has a big hole in his leg,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters before the club confirmed the extent of the injury on its Web site. “It was a very bad challenge by the No. 22 and it was not his first try, unfortunately. It doesn’t look good for Gibbs.”

Armand Traore, who played left back for Arsenal in the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the English Premier League on Saturday, will most likely fill in at the position. Wenger can also use Bacary Sagna, who normally plays right back, on the left, or center back Thomas Vermaelen, who is left-footed.

Arsenal also picked up other injuries in the 2-0 win over Standard as the London team prepares to face Chelsea in a crucial Premier League match on Sunday.

Center back William Gallas sustained an ankle injury in a tackle, and a swollen eye after a collision with Arsenal teammate Andrei Arshavin, who needed staples for his head wound.

“I think (Gallas) will recover for Sunday. We hope so. It wasn’t a concussion, but he couldn’t see anymore because his eye was swollen. Arshavin will be available for Sunday.”

Arsenal is also without top scorer Robin van Persie, who damaged ligaments in an ankle during the international break this month.