Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Thursday that defender Gael Clichy will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a back injury.

The 23-year-old French full-back sustained the injury during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Villarreal on April 7 and has missed Arsenal's last 10 matches.

"It is finished for Gael. We would have put a little more pressure on the recovery period had we gone to the Champions League final, but now we will not take a gamble," Wenger told the club's website.

Arsenal, knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United on Tuesday, are fourth in the Premier League with three matches remaining.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2009)