Arsène Wenger says he has never known anyone as unlucky with injuries as Eduardo.

The Arsenal manager admits his Croatian striker is ruled out for the season after collecting a groin problem in bizarre fashion when Rio Ferdinand fell on him during Wednesday's Champions League tie at Old Trafford. Of course, the 25-year-old only came back to the side in January having spent almost a year on sidelines following that horrific leg break at Birmingham the season before.

He returned dramatically with two goals in his comeback game against Cardiff. However towards the end of that match, he collected a groin injury. The problem has dogged him since, restricting him to one start and two further appearances off the bench.

"He is really distraught," said Wenger at his press conference on Friday. "We have had a few players who have been down [through injuries] but this time I think it has affected him a lot.

"The season is over for him, he'll be out for three weeks. It's the first of May today, it is hard to come back to football competitiveness three weeks afterwards. Maybe if Croatia plays in June he has a chance."

Wenger was asked if he had ever known a player as unlucky with injuries.

"No," he replied. "It looks like since he's come back just every single thing that can happen has happened to him.

"We watched the incident on Tuesday carefully again on the slow motion and he has absolutely no chance to escape. He is on the ground and Rio Ferdinand falls on him with the knee on his groin and you see the groin going.

"He turns his body completely but he has no chance to escape. It's just a bad coincidence.

"Before his groin injury was compensation, but this time it was purely accidental."