Other players returning include Alexander Hleb, Jose Antonio Reyes, Freddie Ljungberg, and Gilberto. But Dennis Bergkamp is being rested and Emmanuel Adebayor is out with a sinus infection.

If Reyes, Freddie, and Hleb all start then Reyes has to be up front. It seems more likely, though, that Robin van Persie will start alongside Thierry Henry, perhaps with Theo Walcott on the bench (although his return to fitness isn't certain), and 2 of Freddie, Jose, Hleb, and Robert Pires will be rested.

There's no mention of Mathieu Flamini With Gilberto returning, I guess Flamini doesn't need to be rushed back, but if he is fit as the official injury news page suggests he may be, he could at least be on the bench as cover - without him it's not clear who could step in if Cole turns out not to be ready for a full 90 minutes. Johan Djourou, perhaps?

There's also no mention of Philippe Senderos so I'm assuming he's not quite ready yet (and that Sol Campbell will be given another chance to prove himself - much needed after a poor performance against Sunderland on Monday.

The absence of Bergkamp suggests that he'll be used on Sunday's Highbury swansong against Wigan. Let's hope so.

If Le Boss decides to rest more players, then Djourou for either Emmanuel Eboue or Kolo Toure, and Alexandre Song for Cesc Fabregas are the obvious candidates.

For City, it still looks like Kiki Musampa will miss out with "sickness" but Georgios Samaras could return up front alongside Darius Vassell, instead of Antoine Sibierski. Vassell is due for a hernia op at the end of the season, which looks to have put paid to any lingering hopes of an England World Cup squad place. Sylvain Distin and David Sommeil are also doubtful.