Gallas major doubt for Chelsea clash

WILLIAM GALLAS is a major doubt for Arsenal’s crunch clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

The defender sustained a nasty bash to his face after colliding with team-mate Andrei Arshavin during Arsenal’s Champions league victory over Standard Liege on Tuesday night.

Gallas also suffered an ankle injury during that game and with the Chelsea tie in mind he was substituted at half-time.

However the defender’s eye is still so swollen that he cannot even put in his contact lenses and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted yesterday that there is a “big question mark’’ surrounding the defender’s availability for Sunday’s clash with the Frenchman’s former side, who Arsenal trail by eight points.

“There is a big question mark about him at the moment,’’ Wenger conceded yesterday.

“Today I cannot say that William Gallas will play, unfortunately. The ankle should be alright but the eye is still very, very, very swollen.

“He wears contact lenses and at the moment he would not get them in. We hope on Sunday it will be better. He is not comfortable but I am optimistic because we still have three days. We are confident he can make it.

“Arshavin is OK. He was shocked but he is OK.’’

Gallas’ absence would be a huge blow for the Gunners given their lack of cover at centre back.

Johan Djourou is out with a long-term injury which means Mikael Silvestre, who replaced Gallas against Liege could get a rare start against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Arsenal are already without Kieran Gibbs, who fractured a metatarsal bone in the dying minutes against Liege and will be sidelined for around three months, Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner for the Sunday’s match.