Arsenal

Wenger To Gamble On Silvestre?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may gamble on playing defender Mikael Silvestre, who is suffering a broken nose, when Manchester United visit on Saturday.

Nov 6, 2008 4:52:13 PM

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Mickael Silvestre(Man U)

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may play Mikael Silvestre on Saturday lunchtime against his former club Manchester United despite the defender suffering a broken nose.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will return to the starting eleven after being withdrawn from the midweek game due to sickness.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, Wenger said: "Mikael has a broken nose with an open wound on the side.

"Basically he should be capable of playing. But in the next 48 hours I will have to decide what we do. You cannot rule him out and I feel he can play. But I have to decide whether I go for the gamble or not."

Regarding injured duo Theo Walcott and captain William Gallas, he added: "We will not know about Walcott and Gallas before tomorrow afternoon. It is 50:50 for both.

"But Manuel Almunia was back in training today so he will be available.

"As for Sagna, there was a gamble on him that I did not want to take [last night]," he continued. "We could not take it today in training either. He still needed to be out of impact work.

"I think he should be OK for Saturday but there is still a slight concern."

Alan Dawson