With the Barcelona game fast approaching, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave a full update on injuries, on Thursday.

Midfielder Alex Song will miss tomorrow’s away game against Newcastle in the English Premier League with striker Theo Walcott – fortunately – fit and in the squad for the game against the Magpies. Asked about Samir Nasri, the Arsenal boss confirmed the 23-year old will be out for three weeks just like defender Thomas Vermaelen.

The Frenchman also answered questions about the frantic last day of the January transfer window as he admitted he is against the winter transfer period which he finds unfair.

This weekend, Arsenal travel to Newcastle knowing that they cannot afford to drop any points with Manchester United away at Wolves and Manchester City hosting Carlos Vela’s West Bromwich Albion. The big game between Chelsea and Liverpool will be played on Sunday.

On injuries, Wenger said:

Alex Song has a nasty kick, yes. I think he will be out for Saturday. [Theo] Walcott, we have good news, he will be available. Samir Nasri, as I said, we predict 21 days from his injury [so] that means three weeks. Thomas Vermaelen is making very good progress so he should be [back in] three to four more weeks.

I am against the transfer period in the middle of the season because I feel it is unfair. I don’t find it right. If you look at it, some teams have already played some teams twice and others not at all.

You can question the fairness of the league and the way the fixtures are organised considering that you have a real transfer market opening in January.