Arsenal midfielder Fabregas says he does not want to rush his return
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas insists he will not rush his return from injury, prompting boss Arsene Wenger to admit there is no timescale for his recovery.
The midfielder aggravated the hamstring injury that has plagued him for most of the season against Braga last week.
Speaking before Arsenal's 2-0 Carling Cup win over Wigan, Fabregas said: "I will wait until I'm completely ready."
Wenger stated after Tuesday's match: "It is impossible to say [when Fabregas will return]. We have to wait."
The Frenchman added: "It is not a big injury [but] let's see. In the next three days, we will know more."
Fabregas first suffered the hamstring problem in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 18 September and the injury kept him on the sidelines for a month.
I don't want to put a date on my return yet, I will take my time
Cesc Fabregas
"I don't want to put a date on my return yet, I will take my time," said Fabregas in his programme notes for the Carling Cup quarter-final clash against Wigan.
"The team did really well without me against Aston Villa, so I will wait until it is completely ready.
"It is so frustrating, though. It seems when something like that happens, it all goes wrong at the same time, so you have to be strong, put everything behind you and keep working."
And Fabregas, who was given some extra time off to recovery after the World Cup final and almost joined boyhood club Barcelona this summer, admits Arsenal are yet to see him firing on all cylinders this season, saying: "I know I haven't been at my best.
"I started the season really strongly, the first few games, but after that I had an injury and got into a pattern of missing a few games, and then starting again.
"So it is better my team-mates play, because they are fitter than me. I will just try to get back whenever I can. My team-mates are helping me a lot and I am trying my best."
There were positives on the injury front for Arsenal, though.
Despite an initial diagnosis of four weeks out of action, Emmanuel Eboue returned to the starting line-up just five days after sustaining a knee injury as Arsenal eased into the last four of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
And Robin van Persie returned from an ankle problem to make his first start for the club since 28 August in the same match.
"Robin showed his class tonight," said Wenger. "[But] he still needs games because he has been out for a long time.
"It was positive he played for 70 minutes tonight and let's hope he has no reaction, then he will become stronger and stronger."
The Frenchman insisted that having those players back reinforces his believe that Arsenal need not strengthen the squad in January, saying: "We made nine changes tonight and still have players out injured or rested.
"I do not know where to put the players - to buy players you have to give them a chance and we already have fantastic international players who do not get enough games."
You can watch highlights of Arsenal's Carling Cup win over Wigan on the Football League showon Wednesday at 2325 GMT online and on BBC One. The programme will then be on iPlayer and highlights will be on this website.
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