Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could have started Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Barcelona with his leg already broken.

The Sun says there is increasing concern around Arsenal the Spanish midfielder's leg-break did NOT happen in the penalty incident with Barca skipper Carles Puyol.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger only decided to play Fabregas minutes before Wednesday's Champions League game, when the star passed a test on the injury he picked up at Birmingham last Saturday.

But his break is in exactly the same spot, on exactly the same leg, as his injury at St Andrew's.

An Arsenal source said: "There's an increasing suspicion his leg was already broken when he went on the pitch to play against Barcelona.

"The injury is in exactly the same place as the injury he suffered at St Andrew's.

"That's not necessarily proof. But Cesc didn't feel 100 per cent going on to the pitch but he didn't know himself. Nobody knew really.

"The only other possible explanation is it was weakened at Birmingham - then broke with the impact on the legs of Puyol."