First, for Saturday's trip to Old Trafford, defender Rio Ferdinand thinks he's in with a shout. Ferdinand has been out with a thigh muscle problem since their Champs Leeague game against Bayer Leberhosen 3 weeks ago. As it happens, O'Shay, Brown, and Silvestre have been doing rather well in his absence. So perhaps Fergie won't be in any hurry.

And Valencia's Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar says he's ready too. "I have recovered well; I haven't felt any discomfort for a few days and all is going to plan. I am not yet working at the same pace as my colleagues but I think I can play the next matches."

Aimar has also been out with a thigh muscle problem, for about the same period as Rio. He had been expected to be out for 3 to 4 weeks but by the sound of it, and with a bit longer to get up to speed than Rio, it seems he could well be playing at Highbury next Tuesday.

Meanwhile Ray Parlour has been saying that he's hoping to force his way into the reckoning for Saturday, but thinks it very unlikely that he'll figure. He's desperate to play soon, and bring to an end the longest injury spell of his career.

According to the Daily Record, Arseene Wenger will give David Seaman a fitness test on Thursday so as to avoid having to make a last minute decision for Saturday. They also say that Ashley Cole is back in full training on Thursday and should be ok for the match.

See this story for more team news for both games.