LONDON (Reuters) - World Cup holders France and English club Arsenal have suffered a huge blow with key midfielder Robert Pires ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
The 29-year-old will miss the World Cup following the results of a scan on his right knee which he hurt during Arsenal's 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final replay victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
In a statement on Wednesday Arsenal said results from the scan showed Pires had sustained "serious cruciate knee ligament damage and will be sidelined for several months, missing the remainder of this season and the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea".
France coach Roger Lemerre said it was a heavy blow to his team's chances.
"It's very annoying as Pires embodied the values of our team and he was one of the key players," Lemerre told a news conference at France's training base before Wednesday's warm-up match against Scotland.
"I learnt the bad news during the match (at Arsenal on Saturday) and I must confess I find it hard to swallow."
Arsenal said Pires, one of the candidates for England's player of the season, was expected to undergo surgery later this week and described the injury as "a bitter blow" for the Frenchman.
Badly missed
Pires will be badly missed by Arsene Wenger's side as they attempt to win the premier league and the FA Cup this season.
Arsenal currently lie third in the premier league, two points behind leaders Liverpool but with two games in hand. They are also face an FA Cup semifinal on April 14 against Middlesbrough.
The French playmaker sustained the injury when he landed badly trying to avoid a Nikos Dabizas tackle in the 27th-minute of Saturday's game at Highbury. He had earlier scored Arsenal's first goal in the victory.
Pires, who has 48 international caps, visited Paris specialist Phillipe Boxiel on Sunday but was initially told he would have to wait two weeks to discover the extent of the injury.
"I am in a lot of pain at the moment," Pires told the London Evening Standard newspaper earlier on Monday.
Pires joined Arsenal from Marseille for 6 million pounds in July 2000 and this season the former Olympique Marseille and Metz playmaker has established himself at Highbury with a series of inspirational displays.
He has scored 13 times this term for Arsenal, including one of the goals of the season a week ago at Aston Villa when he memorably lobbed Villa's Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Bolton Wanderers striker Youri Djorkaeff has now been called into the French squad by Lemerre for Wednesday's game at the Stade de France.
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