Arsene Wenger was today deliberating whether to take a fitness gamble on Patrick Vieira or Ray Parlour for Arsenal's Champions League tie at home to Valencia tonight.
Wenger is facing the potential blow of being without influential captain Vieira in tonight's game, just three days after his side lost to one of their main title rivals at Old Trafford.
Vieira was forced to withdraw from training yesterday after straining a muscle in his right thigh and Wenger last night rated him as a 60-40 chance to be ruled out.
"The medical staff were being quite positive, saying 'Don't rule him out completely as he still has a good chance'," revealed Wenger.
"But Patrick left training as he had a pain and that's always a bad sign, knowing him and how much he likes to play."
Wenger knows that Vieira could risk a longer-term injury if he does play against Valencia, even though it is a game which could effectively set up Arsenal's qualification for the knock-out stages.
"It would of course be very annoying to lose him but what is important is that the guy who comes in for him has the right attitude and then we have a good chance to win the game," he declared.
The problem is that Vieira's most natural replacement, Parlour, who scored against Valencia in the home leg as the Spanish side knocked Arsenal out on away goals in the quarter-finals two years ago, is himself only just back from long-term injury.
The former England international, whom Tony Adams insisted was the player most badly missed at Old Trafford, has just one reserve team game behind him.
While Edu, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and even Robert Pires are other central midfield options, Wenger has not yet made up his mind what to do if Vieira cannot start.
"I've got Ray in the squad but I didn't intend to play him at the start as I felt he needed one more game, but he's a tough boy and I may have to do it," said the Frenchman.
At least Arsenal can recall David Seaman after a groin injury, while Dennis Bergkamp should also return and Sol Campbell is available after a one-match domestic ban.
Campbell should therefore partner Martin Keown, who faces a FA investigation after Wenger admitted he had apologised for his "bad reaction" in pushing Ruud van Nistelrooy in the face in an off-the-ball incident at Old Trafford.
Lauren is, meanwhile, also fit again after an ankle problem and is contesting the right-back spot alongside Oleg Luzhny.
PA