In addition we should point out that Bergkamp will of course not be there, along with longer-term injury victims Cole, Keown, and Luzhny.

Vieira is still rated at 50-50 as far as we know, but perhaps Campbell's chances are slightly greater now. There has been much speculation, in the wake of comments by Wenger, that Campbell will play despite injury (and that there's a chance it will put him out of the coming England games). Its seems not so much that Campbell is closer to fitness than Vieira, but rather that the cover is less good. Le Boss has admitted that Cygan looks like he needs an experienced head alongside him.

According to The Standard, Wenger is going to gamble on Kolo Toure at left back. Gio van Bronckhorst has attracted some criticism recently. Gio has had some superb games at left back, in matches where we haven't been stretched too much defensively. But more recently, and with a defence depleted by the absence of Sol, Seaman, and Keown, he's been caught out by fast and tricky wingers and it does seem like that wing has been targeted by our opponents of late. But is Toure the answer? We'll reserve judgement, but have to say that left back has not looked the best of his positions and that regardless of recent results and whatever Ron Atkinson might say, Gio does have plenty of experience there.

The full list of possible permutations in the group are available in lots of places. The key points however are that

• It is still possible for any pair out of the 4 teams to go through. Unusually, all 4 teams have everything to play for
• If Arsenal get at least a point in Valencia we're through
• But we won't get any help from them, because Valencia absolutely need to win or they're out.
• If Roma win at home to Ajax we're also through, regardless of the result in Valencia.