Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has been ruled out for two months with a back injury.
The French left-back, now age 24, is suffering from a stress fracture of his lower back and will be replaced by Kieran Gibbs for the visit of AZ Alkmaar tonight.
Boss Arsene Wenger told reporters that it is a big blow for Arsenal and revealed that the defender had the problem last season but on the other side of his vertebrae.
Wenger said that it is a gradual thing and that the French international could play pain-free but it got worse after games.
The Arsenal manager also said that Clichy had a scan on Monday and the results revealed that he had a fracture.
The manager then confirmed that the defender will be out between one month and two months.
It is a massive setback for the Gunners, coming just 24 hours after striker Nicklas Bendtner was ruled out for a month with a groin problem.