One of them is forced, with Vieira serving his one-match suspension following his sending off for "having been on the pitch" for some of the Chelsea game.

Ray Parlour is however available again, and according to Wenger quotes on Arsenal.com is very much in contention to fill the void.

Edu is still short of fitness, and there's a possibility that Freddie Ljungberg will be rested. Wenger says that the Swede "has been in pieces" since the Dortmund game, but "knowing him, he will recover for Saturday".

At the back, there has to be a chance that Lauren will start again, having looked ok when he came on in midweek. Better than the Moose anyway. Some Arseweb readers have written to say that I've been unfair on Oleg. I have to concede that he did make some telling contributions on Tuesday including one storming last ditch tackle. But I do think his overall defensive game is just too weak, and I must point out that I'm not one of those who have been prejudiced against him before, I've actually stuck up for him before now. Anyway, If he does play, I promise to do my utmost to judge him fairly. But I stick by my belief that we'd be better off giving Moritz Volz a go. He looks the part and has to be given a chance sometime.

Bolton have something of an injury crisis.

Ricardo Gardner is out for 6 weeks following a cartilage op.

Kevin Nolan (whose goals beat Man Utd at Old Trafford last season and this) may well sit out with a groin problem.

Both fullbacks (Barnett and Charlton) face late fitness tests.

Paul Warhurst, Bruno Ngoty, and Bernard Mendy are definitely out injured.

The good news for Bolton is the return from injury of Michael "Flash-in-the-pan" Ricketts.

A goal for Arsenal would equal the all time league record of 46 consecutive scoring matches, set by Chesterfield in Division 3 North in 1929/30