ARSENE WENGER insists Arsenal can win the title without Cesc Fabregas after writing off his captain for the next four months.
SunSport revealed exclusively yesterday that the Spanish midfielder faced a lengthy lay-off after rupturing medial ligaments in his right knee.
Fab jetted to Barcelona yesterday for a third scan but boss Wenger is confident his playmaker will not need an op after he was crocked in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Liverpool.
But the Frenchman did admit: “It is a massive blow for us because Cesc is a competitor who wants to play every day.
“The news is not good. I am expecting him to be out for four months.
“It is impossible to say how much we will miss him but we have to find a way to compensate for his absence. Everyone else will have to give a bit more.
“It’s a good opportunity to show we have the strength to deal with losing Cesc in the middle of the season for such a long time.
“But of course we can still maintain a title challenge without him. Hopefully he can come back to help us over the line in the final month.”
Wenger also branded Graham Poll ‘an embarrassment’ for his comments about John Terry’s latest red card.
Former FIFA ref Poll suggested JT should have received special treatment during Chelsea’s clash with Everton because he is the England captain.
Poll made his comments after referee Phil Dowd had given Terry a straight red for his lunge at Leon Osman on Monday.
But Wenger fumed: “Frankly, when you listen to the comments of Poll it’s quite embarrassing for referees.
“I have never believed that players’ reputations are taken into account in these matters.
“But you change your mind when you hear statements like that.”
