Last Updated: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:02
Arsene Wenger says he is worried Nicklas Bendtner, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie will all miss the start of the season.
The Gunners manager has already confirmed that striker Bendtner will miss the start of the season with the groin injury that has plagued him since the middle of the last campaign.
However, the Frenchman has now hinted that Arsenal could be without key players Fabregas and van Persie following their exploits at the World Cup.
Both players featured in the final for their respective countries and won't return from their summer breaks until August 5, just ten days before the Gunners head to Anfield for their first game.
Wenger admits ten days might not be enough time for the pair to recover and says it is likely they will sit out the match against Liverpool.
"Bendtner will not be available for the start of the season," Wenger said. "Fabregas and van Persie are due to come back on August 5 and from then on we will see how much build-up work is needed physically and as well how they have recovered mentally from the World Cup.
"They might be short for the first game [of the season] but I don't know, that will depend on the fitness work they have done during the holiday."