Arsenal FC have been deprived of left-back Kieran Gibbs for at least the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against FC Bayern München after the 23-year-old suffered a thigh strain.

Gibbs limped off in the 36th minute of Wednesday's 2-2 Premier League home draw with Liverpool FC and faces up to six weeks on the sidelines. "I believe Gibbs will be out for the Champions League," said manager Arsène Wenger. "I cannot play [Nacho] Monreal so [André] Santos could have a key role to play."

The setback comes less than 12 hours after Spanish international left-back Monreal arrived from Málaga CF for a fee of around €10m. "I believe we need two full-backs. We had two before and we have two again because Gibbs is out," added Wenger. The Gunners host Bayern on 19 February with the return leg scheduled for 13 March. 

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