Bacary Sagna a Doubt for Borussia Dortmund Clash

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Bacary Sagna will miss Arsenal's trip to West Brom after suffering a hamstring strain that will rule him out for three weeks.

Carl Jenkinson will once again be expected to deputise in the Frenchman's absence for the visit to the Hawthorns where Steve Clarke's side will be full of confidence having inflicted defeat upon Manchester United at Old Trafford last week.

"Sagna will not be fit," Wenger told a press conference. "He has a hamstring injury and will out for three weeks. It is always a blow because Sagna is a complete defender. For us it is a handicap but Jenkinson is growing as a player.

"Everybody else came out the Napoli game without a major problem so they should all be available."

Although the 30-year-old's presence will be missed, the upcoming international break will allow Sagna to recover without missing too much game time for the Gunners. The crucial Champions League clash with the competitions' runners up Borussia Dortmund on October 22 may come too soon for the defender, however, with the visit to Crystal Palace on the 26 perhaps a more realistic return date.

The France international's absence will also allow Jenkinson another opportunity to impress, having admirably filled in for his teammate when Sagna was moved inside to centre half earlier in the season due to injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen.

Sagna joins Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby on the Arsenal's injury list. However, the Gunners boss did confirm that other injury absentees Santi Cazorla and Yaya Sanogo will return to the first team following the international break, with Walcott expected to join them after undergoing abdominal surgery.

The visit to West Brom will provide the north London club with the chance to strengthen their position at the summit of the Premier League by the end of the weekend, but Wenger is wary of the threat posed by the Baggies.

"West Brom will be a difficult test, they have a massive squad with experienced players."