Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby has revealed he was fortunate not to suffer a serious injury in a challenge with Bolton Wanderers' Paul Robinson on Saturday.
The Trotters defender caught the Frenchman with a tough tackle that forced him to be substituted during the Gunners' 4-1 triumph at the Emirates Stadium.
Manager Arsene Wenger is already without Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner, Aaron Ramsey and Robin van Persie and Diaby's absence comes as a further blow.
He will miss Wednesday's Champions League opener against Braga and he is delighted he will only miss a couple of games with the ankle knock.
"I will miss our first game in the Champions League but to be honest I am lucky to only miss two or three games, I really thought I would be out for a long time," he said.
"Bolton is a very physical team and to be honest the tackle was a strong one, but it is Premier League football, people are committed, so it is fine for me.
"I hope the team start the Champions League with a victory, the first game in any competition is always very important."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email