Wenger’s gamble “backfired” when the influential midfielder picked up a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth round win over League One Huddersfield at Emirates Stadium.
Because of concerns over the fitness of Tomas Rosicky, who has been troubled by a virus, Wenger elected to put Nasri in the starting XI.
It had all been going to plan when Nicklas Bendtner‘s angled shot deflected in off Terriers skipper Peter Clarke to put the Gunners ahead on 22 minutes. However, French playmaker Nasri then limped off with a hamstring problem as he chased a long kick up field from Manuel Almunia.
Wenger said: “Nasri looks to have a serious hamstring injury. Usually it is three weeks. We have to see if it is a grade 1, it will be two weeks, so we will see.
“I have now regrets because the plan was to play Rosicky, but he was still too weak because he was sick, so I took the gamble on Nasri. It backfired, but he could have come on and that happened as well. It is very difficult to predict.”
PA Sport
