Arsenal dealt Pires blow

Robert Pires holds his knee in agony

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Star Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has suffered a knee injury, dealing the club's season a major blow.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he expected to lose the Frenchman for at least two weeks after Pires was stretchered off during the FA Cup quarter-final defeat of Newcastle.

Wenger said: "The bad news is we could lose Robert Pires for a while. He has twisted his knee - it's very, very sad.

"I'm worried because it's swollen and that is not a good sign.

I don't think it's an injury for France that will keep Pires out of the World Cup

Arsene Wenger

"We obviously hope he is back quickly, but the first signs are not good."

Pires has been one of Arsenal's best players this season, and his absence is not good news as they head into the final games trying to do the Premiership and FA Cup double.

But Wenger said he did not expect Pires to be out long enough to keep him out of this summer's World Cup.

Wenger said that Pires had damaged the medial ligament in his knee and would be out for "two to four weeks with this sort of injury.

"He needs a scan to see how much damage has been done."

Inspirational

"I don't think it's an injury for France that will keep him out of the World Cup," Wenger said.

The France international had been involved in both Arsenal goals on Saturday before he went off midway through the first half after falling awkardly under a challenge from Nikos Dabizas.

Pires scored the first after just 62 seconds before supplying Dennis Bergkamp with a pass for the second in the ninth minute.

Sol Campbell added a third with a header shortly after half-time to tie up the game.