BY DAN KARELL
Arsenal’s slim chance of moving on in the Champions League just got slimmer.
News broke on Monday night that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is facing a three-week stay on the sidelines, after discovering he had ankle inflammation during a training session. Lukas Podolski is also a doubt, and starting right back Bacary Sagna will also the match in Munich with injury.
Wilshere missed the entire 2011-2012 season with multiple ankle and hip injuries, and only returned at the end of October in this season. Arsenal, who have seen their exit from the League Cup and FA Cup within just a few weeks, now could be sent home from the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
The German side lead 3-1 on aggregate, following their win in the Emirates in mid-February.
Here are some more stories to get your Tuesday started:
PIQUE CALLS ON FANS TO KEEP THE FAITH
Defender Gerard Pique has called on Barcelona fans and his teammates alike to not give up hope, as his side head into their challenge on Tuesday against AC Milan.
Trailing 2-0 in the tie, the Catalonians need at least a three goal advantage over their Italian counterparts to ensure passage to the quarterfinals. Pique has made a stunning ultimatum, challenging supporters of the club to support their team, or hand in their membership cards.
Barcelona have been notably given a boost ahead of the all-important second leg, with Xavi Hernandez returning to the fold, while Milan have suffered a blow, losing Giampaolo Pazzini for the trip to the Spanish league leaders.
SPANISH BANK BANKIA NOW OWNS VALENCIA
After defaulting on loans, and being unable to pay not only their wage bill, but the continued construction of a new stadium, Spanish football club Valencia has been taken over by Bankia, a bank that has recently been bailed out by the Spanish government.
Valencia, knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last week, has been in a financial crisis for the last few years, forcing them to sell off many of their big name players, including David Silva and David Villa. The move for Bankia to take control of the club is embroiled in controversy. Because the bank has been nationalized, it looks like taxpayers in Spain, and to a larger extent, the European Union, are aiding the survival of soccer teams.
Valencia is not the only club in the area to be mired in debt issues, as nearby Hercules and Elche are suffering from multimillion euro deficits.
QUICK KICKS
Clarence Seedorf has won his first silverware in Brazil with his club Botafogo, beating Vasco de Gama to win the Guanabara Cup. (REPORT)
According to reports out of Italy, Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine is interested in hiring Massimo Allegri from AC Milan to be their next manager. (REPORT)
Cellar dwellers Palermo have fired their forth manager of the season, and replaced him with one they fired once already this season. (REPORT)
U.S. attorney Michael Garcia will deliver a report on alleged FIFA bribes in the ISL scandal from 10 years ago on March 20, when the executive committee next meets. (REPORT)
Former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been approached for the open Reading job. (REPORT)
Lanus are back on top of the Argentine Primera Division table, after defeating Velez Sarsfield on Monday night. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you give Arsenal any chance to win now? Do you think Pique is right to call out the fans? See Valencia and other clubs in Spain going bankrupt?
Share your thoughts below.