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Patrick Vieira's season is probably over. There had been hopes that he might be able to return for the last couple of games, or even in time for the Leeds game on Sunday. But now it's looking unlikely that he'll be fit even for the Cup final in 2 weeks time. That comes from a Wenger statement on the official club site, and the France coach has said that Le Boss has told him that Vieira is also unlikely to be able to play for his country in the summer.
The Arsenal.com page also confirms that Ljungberg (ankle), Cygan (calf), Lauren (ankle), Edu (knee) and Francis Jeffers (knee) will also all miss the Leeds game. Gilberto is also said to be unlikely to play because he's knackered after a game for Brazil in midweek.
Sol Campbell starts his four-game suspension and Gilberto is unlikely to figure because of midweek action for Brazil in Mexico. "When he arrived back here, he did not know if he was still in the plane or not," says Wenger. But the absence of both Vieira and Edu could well force him to field Gilberto anyway.
We will also be without Sol Campbell, who starts his 4 match ban.
So I guess we'll probably see Keown and Luzhny in central defence with Toure at right back.
I've said before that Arsenal like adversity, and that being miles ahead in the league felt uncomfortable. Can I change my mind please? When Leeds picked themselves up to thrash Charlton a few weeks ago it seemed impossible that they'd be coming to Highbury with much to play for, but subsequent results have contrived to leave them very much needing something from the game.
We can only hope that Charlton pull off a miracle by doing us a big favour against Man Utd tomorrow, and that that galvanises the depleted Gunners into
action. If the remaining French contingent give us half as much as they did for France during the week, we should be able to keep the challenge alive, and maybe help send Leeds down in the process.
And the news from the Leeds camp is... Alan Smith starts a 2 match ban so Harry Kewell is expected to play up front alongside Mark Viduka. Lucas Radebe will probably return to the defence (after 3 matches out with a knee problem) allowing skipper Dominic Matteo to move into midfield. Eirik Bakke could be out with an ankle injury.
West Ham's win over Chelsea means that relegation is a real possibility for Leeds. They could do with something out of this game. The good news from Saturday's matches is that Everton need something out of their game at home to Man Utd next week, in order to be sure of a UEFA cup slot next season.
Peter Reid has been saying he's going to use tactics, the sneaky fellow. "I've got an idea of which formation I'll be playing and hopefully we'll be keeping it tight and we'll score. You have to keep it tight for as long as possible because they'll be desperate to win it, and hopefully the longer it goes on the more anxious they will be."
(Hoping to score... fiendish! )
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