LONDON - ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas will be out of action for as long as four months because of medial ligament damage to his right knee.

Manager Arsene Wenger says that the Spain midfielder had a partially ruptured ligament and will be on the sidelines for at least three months.

That will rule him out of Arsenal's Champions League matches against AS Roma on Feb 24 and March 11.

Fabregas hobbled out of Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool, which left Arsenal eight points off the lead and in fifth place, following a tackle by Xabi Alonso at the end of the first half. -- AP