Theo Walcott suffered a suspected broken rib after a painful clash with San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini, which forced the Arsenal forward out of England's World Cup Qualifier after just six minutes.
England manager Roy Hodgson was angered by the challenge, with Walcott hospitalized and expected to undergo a chest scan to see the extent of the injury. England went on to win the match 5-0, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping the injury to his player is not too serious, ahead of a crucial run-in of games.
"If I described the challenge as reckless I'd be being kind," Hodgson said. "It was a fierce challenge. I don't believe there was any malice, but it's put Theo Walcott in hospital.
"We have to wait to find out the extent of his injury but, if your goalkeeper does that, you're lucky to have him on the pitch for the rest of the game and not to have conceded a penalty.
"We can't accuse San Marino of playing a dirty game of football tonight. There weren't too many vicious fouls -- there was one, which is the one which bothers us, and it put a dampener on the evening."
Meanwhile, Arsenal discard Marouane Chamakh could be handed a lifeline by former club Bordeaux, after the French club's chairman Jean-Louis Triaud admitted they were looking to bring back their striker.
Chamakh is way down the pecking order at Arsenal, and has not played a single minute in the English Premier League or Champions League this season, with Wenger preferring to give the likes of Gervinho and Walcott a chance down the middle rather than try out the Moroccan international.
While Olivier Giroud is yet to fully establish himself in the Arsenal starting line-up, it is clear Chamakh is not in Wenger's plans this season.
Triaud said he wanted the striker to return, but admitted wages could be a stumbling block. "There is a serious chance Chamakh could return," Triaud said. "Money is the key question because salaries in the Premier League are enormous but it's also necessary for him to play.
"In December 2011, I sent a message to say the door was open for a return but he wanted to stay. Now the message is there again with the same objective."
Wenger is reportedly looking at bringing in another striker in January to help decrease the burden on Giroud, with the likes of Fernando Llorente, Adrian Lopez, Stevan Jovetic and Abel Hernandez on the Gunners' radar.
