ARSENAL S pre-season preparations were dealt a hammer blow on Tuesday when the club confirmed that midfielder Samir Nasri had broken his leg in training. The France international, 22, suffered a fractured fibula in his right leg and is likely to be out

ARSENAL'S pre-season preparations were dealt a hammer blow on Tuesday when the club confirmed that midfielder Samir Nasri had broken his leg in training.

The France international, 22, suffered a fractured fibula in his right leg and is likely to be out 'for two to three months' according to a club statement.

The exact details of how the injury came about have not been revealed, but given that Arsenal only arrived in Austria on Monday afternoon and Nasri was taking part in a gentle first session, the injury is a cruel blow to both player and club.

He is unlikely to return until October at the earliest, and is also set to miss France's crucial World Cup qualifying games in the autumn.

However, it would seem that Wenger has a ready-made replacement on the left flank in the fit-again Tomas Rosicky, while other options on the left side include the Mexican Carlos Vela and Kieran Gibbs, so impressive at left-back at the end of last season.

Nasri's injury overshadowed Arsenal's 7-1 win over SC Columbia on Tuesday night which saw many of the first team regulars return to action for the first time.

Arsenal fell behind against the Austrian fourth division side, and it was to a freakish goal when Manuel Almunia's clearance cannoned back into the net off Patrick Lehner.

That stirred Arsenal into action and Nicklas Bendtner hit the equaliser and then grabbed a second after Aaron Ramsey had made it 2-1.

As at Barnet on Saturday, Arsene Wenger shuffled his squad at half-time, and Robin van Persie soon scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-1, before a late flurry of goals saw Van Persie and Ramsey both grab their second of the night, and former captain William Gallas headed home a Bacary Sagna cross.