Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has failed to recover in time from a hamstring injury to face Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

The Spanish star was initially hopeful that the hamstring injury would respond well to treatment and allow him to feature for the top of the table clash as the Gunners look to bounce back from last week’s shock home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

However, the treatment has not gone as planned and the Gunners talisman will not feature in any capacity at Stamford Bridge.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had already braced himself for the likelihood of his captain missing the game after declaring earlier in the week that Fabregas had only “a little hope” of facing the Blues.

The Frenchman is also unlikely to want to rush the playmaker back so soon after a hamstring problem which always has the possibility of worsening if caution is not adopted in a recovery process.

Fabregas can now enjoy an extended rest period as well, after Spain national team manager Vicente del Bosque left him out of his squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Lithuania and Scotland next month.

The Gunners can move within a point of Chelsea if they win at Stamford Bridge, but will have to do so without a host of first team regulars including Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner, in addition to Fabregas.

Defender Thomas Vermaelen is also facing a late fitness test while goalkeeper Manuel Almunia now faces competition from Lukasz Fabianski although the Spaniard is said to be carrying a knock which saw him dropped for Arsenal’s midweek Champions League trip to Belgrade.

Wenger also confirmed that young midfield star Jack Wilshere was nursing some knocks picked up against FK Partizan and that he had been cautious by taking the player off in Belgrade: “Jack got a few knocks in the first half and I decided to be cautious with him.”

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, English Premier League, injury news, Jack Wilshere, Manuel Almunia, Thomas Vermaelen