Robert Pires believes he was fortunate to escape with just damage to his ankle.
Robert Pires believes he was fortunate to escape from Southampton with just damage to his ankle.Pires was the victim of an ugly tackle from Southampton midfielder David Prutton at St Mary's on Saturday - an injury which forced him out of the contest at half time.
It is likely that Pires has suffered just a sprain to his ankle, but the former Marseille man has suggested he could have been left in a far worse situation following Prutton's late lunge.
"He could have broken my leg," Pires told the Sun. "But it was the ankle that went.
"I am walking on crutches as a precaution and we'll see the extent of the damage better tomorrow [Monday]. But I'm out for a good ten days."
The French ace has had one X-ray on the joint, but will need a further check as the initial X-ray proved inconclusive.
Gunners chief Arsene Wenger, though, believes his compatriot will be out of action for around a fortnight.
"It looks like a bad ankle sprain," said Wenger. "How bad it can be, nobody can tell me yet, because they have to check with an X-ray.
"He has been X-rayed here, but they need a deeper X-ray.
"The first one was just a bone check. We have to see how deep the damage is."
Commenting on Arsenal's FA Cup fifth round replay at Sheffield United, Wenger added: "The team picks itself on Tuesday with the players we have.
"It is not ideal to have so many suspensions at this time, but we can only focus now on the players who are available to help us."
As well as Pires, Wenger is without suspended trio Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie and Jose Antonio Reyes for the clash with The Blades.
