Franck Ribéry to miss Bayern Munich's Champions League clash with Arsenal

Franck Ribéry will miss the Champions League tie at Arsenal following a minor operation to repair a burst blood vessel in his buttock.

The Bayern Munich winger had the operation last Thursday, with tests on Monday showing the procedure had been successful in removing bruising that had been affecting a nerve.


The holders confirmed that the 30-year-old would return to training next week and will miss the first leg of their last-16 Champions League meeting at the Emirates Stadium on 19 February.

A statement on Bayern's website said: "An examination on Monday revealed that the bruise, which had pressed on a nerve, was completely removed by surgery. Ribéry is scheduled to begin exercise therapy later this week and, a week later, he will return to running training.

"Therefore Ribéry will miss the next games for the champions, among them the last-16 tie at Arsenal."

Ribéry is Bayern's most influential player and made the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or earlier this year.