Bacary Sagna to miss Arsenal games with thigh injury
Sagna has started six of Arsenal's seven league games this season
Arsenal will be without right-back Bacary Sagna for at least their next two games because of a thigh injury.
Sagna, 27, took a knock in the defeat at Chelsea on 3 October and was ruled out of France's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Luxembourg.
He is now also likely to miss club games against Birmingham on Saturday and Shakhtar Donetsk on 19 October.
Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott could return but Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Nicklas Bendtner are out.
Spanish midfielder Fabregas is in line to start against Birmingham after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against Sunderland on 21 September.
And the captain could be joined in the matchday squad by winger Walcott, who has not played since damaging his right ankle during England's Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Switzerland on 10 September.
Dutch striker Van Persie injured an ankle at Blackburn on 7 September and Belgian centre-back Vermaelen picked up an Achilles problem against Liverpool on the season's opening weekend, but neither are close to a return.
A groin complaint has prevented Bendtner from featuring at all this term and, although the Danish forward has resumed training, he is still thought to be some way off match fitness.
Joining an injury list that also includes defender Kieran Gibbs (foot) and midfielder Aaron Ramsey (broken leg), Sagna told French television programme Stade 2: "I'm currently in rehabilitation. It will take three weeks. I'll take my time to get back."
Sagna is likely to be replaced by Ivorian defender Emmanuel Eboue, who has been forced to settle for a bit-part role this season.
Arsenal lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last time out to fall seven points behind the Premier League leaders.
Arsene Wenger's men welcome Birmingham to the Emirates Stadium before a home Champions League match against Shakhtar.
They then return to Premier League action with a trip to Manchester City on 24 October.
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