Patrick Vieira is likely to miss Arsenal's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough at Highbury tomorrow.
The Arsenal captain was hoping to recover in time from the groin injury which also forced him to miss last weekend's North London derby against Tottenham.
"Patrick is not likely to start against Middlesbrough, although he is close. Edu is also not likely to play, so there will not be many changes in midfield," explained manager Arsene Wenger.
Pascal Cygan is still doubtful with a calf strain and while Dennis Bergkamp escaped a ban at an FA disciplinary hearing yesterday, he must still pass a fitness test on a jarred knee.
Wenger must also decide whether he can afford to rest either Fredrik Ljungberg or Gilberto Silva, with Sylvain Wiltord hoping for a recall.
Rami Shaaban should be fit to take up his place on the substitutes bench, with Stuart Taylor having sustained a broken finger.
Provisional squad: Seaman, Shaaban, Cole, Luzhny, Lauren, Cygan, Keown, Campbell, Upson, Stepanovs, Vieira, Parlour, Edu, Gilberto, van Bronckhorst, Toure, Ljungberg, Pires, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu, Jeffers.