LONDON, January 30- Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri could face up to three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a serious hamstring injury in the Gunners' FA Cup tie with Huddersfield, Arsene Wenger said Sunday.
Nasri pulled up suddenly during the first half of Arsenal’s 2-1 win over the Terriers, and Wenger now fears the inspirational French playmaker will miss the club’s Champions League showdown with Barcelona on February 16.
"It looks a serious hamstring injury and that’s usually three weeks. We have to see whether it’s a grade one or two tear," a gloomy Wenger said afterwards.
"It’s big blow for us at the moment. It’s two weeks to that (Barcelona) game and you will soon know if he’s out. But he is doubtful. At this important stage of the season to lose bodies is disappointing for us."
Arsenal, who are challenging on four fronts, have a heavy fixture schedule and face Everton in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Wenger admitted that his gamble in playing Nasri on Sunday had backfired.
"I have regrets at playing him as the plan was to first to play (Tomas) Rosicky, but we was still too weak and was sick," Wenger said. "I took a gamble and it backfired.
"It’s difficult to predict something like that happening. I could have brought him on with 25 minutes left and the same thing could have happened.
"But at this stage of the season to lose bodies is disappointing for us. We looked a bit tired and hopefully we can recover.
"When you win you recover quicker. We only have 48 hours until we play next which doesn’t help us though."