Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of left-back Kieran Gibbs after he limped off during England Under-21's 0-0 draw with their Lithuanian counterparts in Vilnius on Tuesday evening.

The 20-year-old was sent for an X-ray on the injury with fears growing he has suffered a suspected broken metatarsal which would rule him out for several weeks.

The news is a blow for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as Gibbs has been deputising for Gael Clichy as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture in his back.

It means that veteran Mikael Silvestre, who has featured just one this season, is likely to be drafted in for the clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday and may have to deputise for some time.

Gibbs is the 11th member of Arsenal's first-team squad to join the injured list at Emirates Stadium, with Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby adding to the club's woes this past week.