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Rio Ferdinand was taken to hospital after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final first leg with a rib injury.

Ferdinand went down in a crowded goalmouth in the second half of the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford and had to be helped to leave the field gingerly.

He was replaced by Jonny Evans and was sent to hospital for an X-ray on his damaged ribcage.

"Rio got a crack on the ribs," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

"He's gone to hospital as a precaution and we hope there is nothing broken because that could put him out for two or three weeks. We'll have to wait and see."

He is in danger of missing the Premier League trip to Middlesbrough at the weekend and the Champions League second leg at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday.

Ferdinand was a largely untroubled at the heart of United's defence before going off as Arsenal played plenty of slick passing without posing much of a threat.

And Ferguson said he was happy to take a slim lead to Arsenal after John O'Shea's goal gave his side the advantage.

"The most pleasing aspect is that before the game we said try and win and not lose a goal and we have done that and the performance level was very good so we have achieved that and I think we have given ourselves a good chance overall," Ferguson said.

"We have players who can score goals and we will be a goal threat at their ground but the tie is not over.

"Arsenal manager Arsene (Wenger) will be thinking it's been a good day for him, he could be out of the tie but he is not.

"We always do things the hard way and this is another night when we have got our fans frustrated where we maybe should be into the final but we are not but we have done that many times.

"We did it in the last round and we will have to go through the process of taking the game to the wire probably."

Ferguson feels the fact that United have to win their next Premier League game Middlesbrough to maintain control of the title race while there is less pressure on Arsenal against Portsmouth is good for Wenger's men.

"That's Arsenal's big advantage now, they could play (assistant manager) Pat Rice at right-back and Arsene at centre-forward if they like, it doesn't matter to them at Portsmouth," he said.

"We have to play a team to win at Middlesbrough. It's a lunch-time kickoff and I don't think that's right but we will have to get on with it."

And O'Shea admitted United had not made the most of the chances they created.

"Their keeper made a couple of great saves but from the first-half we could have been a couple more up," the Ireland defender said.

"Overall though we have to be happy. We are more than capable of scoring an away goal at the Emirates but it is far from over."

Wenger has promised that Arsenal will put on a completely different display at the Emirates.

Wenger acknowledged that his team were fortunate to be just a goal behind but is sure that they will show what they are made of in front of their own fans.

"At home, I am convinced you will see a different Arsenal team and we still have a very good chance to reverse the result.

"Football is like that and you can play tomorrow again and it will be a different game. We have the quality to do it and we believe that at home we can do that.

"They could be deflated. I believe the tie is very open. They can have regrets because they didn't score a second and it's down to us to make them regret that they didn't score a second goal.

"It's a good opportunity to show our character and mental strength and I'm confident you will see our strength of character."

Reuters