The Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has undergone surgery after breaking his right leg in two places in his side's 3-1 English Football Premier League victory at Stoke.
The 19-year-old Wales international was stretchered off after being fouled by Stoke centre-back Ryan Shawcross in the second half of the game.
Shawcross was promptly sent off and left the field in tears.
Ramsay is certain to miss the remainder of this season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who saw Croatian striker Eduardo sustain a similar injury in a game at Birmingham in February 2008, said Shawcross's tackle was "not acceptable".
But Shawcross was robustly defended by both his coach Tony Pulis and his team-mates and later released a statement expressing his sympathy.
Ramsey, who joined Arsenal from Cardiff City in June 2008, has been withdrawn from the Wales squad to face Sweden in a friendly game in Swansea this week.
He had made 29 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season, scoring four goals.
