Few expected Didier Drogba to play on Saturday against Arsenal, but that was because most thought he would be rested. Instead, he is not going to play because he is hurt. Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said the striker injured his knee in the Blues' Champions League win over Barcelona on Wednesday. Not only is he going to miss the match against the Gunners, but he may miss next week's return leg at the Camp Nou as well.
Didier Drogba Will Miss Arsenal Match, May Miss Barcelona Clash
A knee injury will keep Didier Drogba out of Chelsea’s match versus Arsenal and maybe out of the Blues’ trip to the Camp Nou as well.
"Both David Luiz and Drogba will miss the game against Arsenal," Di Matteo said. "Drogba picked up a knee injury against Barcelona and we will need to assess him over the next couple of days. He got pushed and kicked around quite a lot in the game on Wednesday."
It was expected that Luiz would miss the match. He’s been battling an injury of his own and nobody expected him to be fit, but the absence of Drogba could really be a blow to the Blues’ chances in both the league and Champions League.
Chelsea trail Tottenham and Newcastle for fourth place in the Premier League so, with just five matches left to play, they desperately need to pick up points. Toss in the Champions League, where the Blues really do need to get a goal at the Camp Nou because the odds of shutting out Barcelona again are long, and Drogba will be sorely missed.
To make matters worse for Chelsea and Drogba, the Ivorian has been in sensational form of late. He scored a phenomenal goal to put the Blues in front of Spurs in last week's FA Cup semifinal and was the goal scorer in Chelsea's first leg Champions League win. With him out, Fernando Torres will be asked to step up. For all of the heat he has taken for his rough run with the Blues, if he can score to beat Arsenal and Barcelona, you can bet that much, if not all, will be forgiven.
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