Kim Kallstrom facing spell on the sidelines with back injury

Arsenal are assessing a back injury sustained by new signing Kim Kallstrom, it is understood.

The 31-year-old midfielder moved to Emirates Stadium on deadline day as Arsenal bid to mount a genuine challenge for the league title.

Kallstrom joined until the end of the season on loan and his arrival was the only incoming business concluded by the Gunners across the duration of the mid-season window.

But reports on Saturday morning suggested the Sweden international suffered a back injury before the deal went through, during a pre-season tour with Spartak Moscow in Abu Dhabi last month.

The same source claimed Kallstrom could miss a large part of his temporary stay at Arsenal and the initial prognoses is that the he could be out of action for between 8-12 weeks.

But it appears the seriousness of the his injury is yet to be determined by the Premier League title-chasers, who will be hoping to have him available as soon as possible with fellow midfielders Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey also injured and Mathieu Flamini serving a four-game ban.

Arsene Wenger's side enter an important month in their search for silverware and, after a home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, face a daunting schedule including Premier League and FA Cup tussles with Liverpool, a league visit from Manchester United and the opening leg of their Champions League tie against holders Bayern Munich.