"Diaby is out with an ankle problem following the tackle from (Paul) Robinson and I do not know for how long," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger at his pre-match conference on Tuesday.

"He will not play tomorrow and certainly not at the weekend.

"Thomas Vermaelen is out as well with an Achilles problem coming back from Belgium, so we do not have him either."

The Gunners are already without long-term casualties Robin van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner.