Arsenal [ Images ] suffered another injury blow ahead of their Champions League [ Images ] game at Ajax Amsterdam when Brazilian midfielder Gilberto finished up on crutches after Saturday's 0-0 draw with West Ham.

Gilberto injured his ankle at Upton Park and joins Dutch forward Dennis Bergkamp as a major doubt for Tuesday's Group B game - for which Arsenal are already missing injured striker Thierry Henry [ Images ] and suspended forward Robin van Persie [ Images ].

"He is on crutches at the moment and doesn't look good for Tuesday night," manager Arsene Wenger [ Images ] told reporters.

"It's bad news. With all the injuries at the moment, we just can't afford to lose Gilberto."

Gilberto's absence would be a big loss in midfield, where Spanish teenager Francesc Fabregas has been replacing Patrick Vieira and Edu, who both left the club in the close season.

Fabregas, a burgeoning talent, is likely to be partnered by the inexperienced 21-year-old Mathieu Flamini on Tuesday if Gilberto does not make a speedy recovery.

There are concerns too up front, with Henry out for six weeks and Bergkamp rated by Wenger as having only a two percent chance of beating a back and groin problem in time.

But Wenger thought attacking midfielder Robert Pires [ Images ], who missed Saturday's draw with a thigh injury, had a 70 percent chance of playing in Amsterdam.

Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes [ Images ] is expected to lead the attack, probably with youngster Quincy Owusu-Abeyie.

The only bright spot on the horizon is the successful return from injury of central defender Sol Campbell, who scored both goals in last Monday's 2-0 league win over Everton.

"We have done well defensively in the last two games and Sol was magnificent again today," Wenger said.

Arsenal opened their European campaign with a laboured 2-1 victory over Swiss outsiders Thun, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Bergkamp. Van Persie was red-carded in the game.