Tonight:
5°c
Arsene Wenger claimed Cesc Fabregas could be fit to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday after a scan revealed his hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared.
The 22-year-old was forced off during Saturday's 4-1 win over Portsmouth and it was believed he would be ruled out for up to three weeks.
Although Fabregas will miss tomorrow night's Champions League play-off second-leg clash with Celtic, Wenger is optimistic his captain will return to the side for the weekend trip to the Premier League champions.
He said: “From last Saturday we lost Cesc Fabregas, who was not training today. His scan was quite reassuring he has no muscular strain but it will take a few days to settle down. There's a chance he'll be fit for Old Trafford.”
There was similar news regarding Tomas Rosicky, who returned to full training once again today after overcoming his latest injury setback.
The Czech midfielder has not made a competitive appearance since January 2008 after suffering a series of hamstring and knee problems but had made promising progress in three pre-season appearances before suffering another problem.
But Wenger said: “The good news is that Tomas Rosicky is back, not for tomorrow but he was in normal training today. He could be in the squad on Saturday if needed.”
Although Arsenal hold a 2-0 advantage over the Scottish club following last week's victory at Celtic Park, the Arsenal boss insists his side will not become complacent.
“It's not job done, it's job to do — that's how I approach it,” said Wenger, who is still expected to start with several big-name players on the bench.
“There's a job to do and to finish and we have done a big part of it. But the most important thing is to get over the line and that's what we want to achieve tomorrow.
“I rest players who I feel need a rest without considering the game after. My target is to win tomorrow's game, it's a massive game for us and after that we will see what we do for the weekend.
“I will not rotate as a result of the Man United game just because when a player is very tired and you have a player who is very fresh you play the player who is very fresh because he will be better.”
Gael Clichy, meanwhile, today claimed that Alexander Hleb's disappointing career since leaving Arsenal reassured him he should stay at
Emirates Stadium.
The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid but has seen how Hleb, even though was part of the Barcelona that won La Liga and the Champions League, started only 17 games and later expressed his regret at quitting Emirates Stadium, where he was a regular starter.
“It proves that sometimes leaving for another big club is not always the right decision,” said the Gunners defender in the September issue of the Arsenal club magazine.
“When you move you have to be sure that the club really wants you — you want to know, not necessarily that you'll be playing all the time, but that you're part of it.
“It's a big pleasure to be linked with places like Real but Arsenal is my club. I feel really good right now and I feel like I'm far from done here.
“I need to win more trophies with Arsenal and I need to give what the club has given me over the last six years.”
