Bayern star Scholl to miss Arsenal return

Bayern Munich’s influential playmaker Mehmet Scholl has been ruled out of his side’s return Champions League clash with Arsenal.

The 34-year-old tore a thigh muscle in a brief appearance in the 1-0 win at Freiburg at the weekend, when he managed half an hour after replacing Hasan Salihamidzic, before being replaced himself with 12 minutes remaining.

This latest injury is another in a long line that have interrupted Scholl’s career.

The former Germany international has just regained top form and was masterful in Bayern’s recent 5-0 demolition of Dortmund, so was seen as one of the main threats to Arsenal’s chances of overturning Bayern’s 3-1 advantage when they meet again on March 9.

Coach Felix Magath made changes with key assignments against Bremen, Arsenal and Schalke on the horizon, yet with the game surprisingly deadlocked, Scholl’s technical skills were called upon earlier than expected.

School was on the field when Sebastian Deisler netted the game’s only goal, but tests on Sunday confirmed he had torn muscle fibres and will be out for up to three weeks.

However, his absence may be the boost that Deisler has been waiting for. The 25-year-old midfielder has been labelled ‘sick-note’ for his poor injury record and recent bouts of depression, which have blighted his time at Bayern.

“I hope things continue like they did on Saturday because I don’t want to be sitting on the bench any more,” he told Kicker magazine.