Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs out for 3 weeks with thigh strain

Kieran Gibbs will be out for three weeks after straining a thigh in Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The England left back limped off eight minutes before the interval and was replaced by Andre Santos.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed: 'It's a thigh strain and that rules him out for the next three weeks.

'He was an important player for us going forward and the game we wanted to play. It's a shame he's out for the next three weeks.'

Gibbs will miss Saturday's meeting with Stoke and a further Premier League clash against Sunderland, while he could also be a doubt for the Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich.

Wenger said he would think about looking for a replacement for Gibbs before the transfer window closes tomorrow - the ridiculed figure of Santos is the other option available to Arsenal - while also confirming any move for Spain striker David Villa would not happen.