Fabregas faces an anxious wait

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas hopes his worst fears will not be confirmed as Arsenal assess the extent of his latest injury - which could end the Spaniard's season.

The Gunners skipper had been a doubt for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Barcelona, which ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium, after suffering severe bruising to his knee and leg at Birmingham.

However, after coming through a fitness test in the warm-up, Fabregas returned to lead the side against his boyhood club - and played a pivotal role in their comeback after falling 2-0 down to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic which looked to have all but killed off the tie.

During the closing stages, after substitute Theo Walcott had pulled a goal back, the Gunners skipper - who would have missed the second leg against his old club anyway after being booked in the first half - was bundled over by Carles Puyol and awarded a penalty.

It was during that collision with the Barcelona captain, who was shown a red card by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, that Fabregas suffered the latest problem which the Spain international believes could even end his season - and perhaps threaten participation in South Africa this summer.

"I am not good," said Fabregas, who left the Emirates Stadium on crutches.

"We have to wait (for the scans), but I hope I can wear the Arsenal shirt again this season.

"I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something. I do not think it is going to be good news, but still I hope there will be."