Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remains hopeful Thomas Vermaelen will be fit for their Champions League tie with Barcelona.
Wenger refused to rule Vermaelen out of next month's showdown but compared his achilles injury to that of Aaron Ramsey, who has recently returned from a broken leg.
"Let's count the weeks to Barcelona and you will know," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
"I count a minimum of four weeks, maximum six, so it is not an unrealistic target.
"But don't forget as well, he is a little bit in the situation of Aaron Ramsey, he has not played since the beginning of September.
"That means he will need some games to be completely fit."
