CESC Fabregas fears he has broken his leg, following Arsenal’s incredible Champions League quarter-final 2-2 draw in the first leg against Barcelona at Emirates Stadium.

The Spanish midfielder was fouled by Carles Puyol and slammed home the resulting penalty to haul Arsenal back on level terms, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given the visitors a well-deserved 2-0 lead in the second half. Theo Walcott made an immediate impact when he came on, reducing the deficit after latching on to Nicklas Bendtner’s precise pass.

However, the repercussions of the comeback run deep, as Fabregas admitted his injury ‘doesn’t look good’, while William Gallas looks set to miss the rest of the season with a calf injury. He was stretchered off in the first half, while Andrey Arshavin was also forced off before the break with a calf injury of his own, which looks set to keep him out for two to three weeks.

Fabregas said afterwards: “I took the penalty quite strongly but after, when I went to get the ball, I could not walk anymore. I don’t know if I did it then or when I was fouled.

“It is the fibula. I think I put my leg between Puyol’s when I was fouled and kicked it.

“I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something. But we have to wait. The scans will tell us if it is something or nothing.

“I do not think it is going to be good news but still I hope there will be.”