More Injury Woe For Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre will be ruled out for three weeks after picking up a thigh injury, while Kolo Toure could also be facing a stint on the sidelines.

31-year-old Silvestre had to be withdrawn after half-an-hour in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Wenger expects the French International to be missing for the rest of January, with Silvestre certain to miss the Premier League clashes with Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Everton. Silvestre joins captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines at the North London club.

However, Wenger also revealed that Gael Clichy should be back in time to face the Trotters at the Emirates on Saturday, but is concerned about Toure, who has an inflamed groin.

“It is a thigh problem," Wenger said about Silvestre.

“(He will be out for) three weeks, 21 days.

“I have to look at it but at the moment with the injuries we are a little bit short everywhere.

“I hope Kolo [Toure] will not be out for a very long time because he has an inflamed groin.

“On the left-hand side we are a bit short but Gael Clichy should be back for next week.”

Arsenal Weigh Up £10million Offer For Diakhate?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is understood to be weighing up a £10million offer for Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Diakhate, should Gunners defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure leave the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Sun.

24-year-old Senegal International Diakhate is also believed to be a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City and Portsmouth, with the central-defender having attracted the interest of Juventus, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the past, while at Ligue 1 side Nancy.



Gallas’ future is unclear at the Premiership club after criticising his team-mates at the North London recently and being stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal by Wenger. With Toure also keen to leave the Gunners after reportedly also having a bust-up with former Chelsea defender Gallas.

This has led Wenger to sound out Diakhate as a possible replacement at the Emirates after the defender impressed the Frenchman with his displays in the Champions League for Kiev this season. However, Wenger is sure to face competition from Man City boss Mark Hughes, who is desperate to shore up a shaky defence at the Eastlands, while Pompey could also have a say in where Diakhate may end up, should the defender decide to leave the Ukrainian club.

Toure To City, Gallas To Anyone, £6million Upson Back To Arsenal As Wenger Rings The Changes

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Following the events at Arsenal this week and the Gunners 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Eastlands Stadium on Saturday, which leaves the North London club 10 points off the pace in the Premier League. Speculation is rife that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will make wholesale changes at the Emirates in January, when the transfer window opens.

French International William Gallas (above) is almost a certainty to leave Arsenal in January after his outburst about rifts and unrest within the corridors of the Emirates Stadium. Gallas has been stripped of the captaincy, suspended by the Premiership club and been told he can leave the Gunners by Wenger, according to reports. With a return to one of the big clubs in France his most likely destination.

Other reports on Sunday have linked Manchester City with a move for Arsenal’s Ivory Coast International Kolo Toure, with City boss Mark Hughes keen to bolster a leaky defence at the Eastlands, despite keeping a clean sheet against the Gunners on Saturday.

Toure the vice-captain at Arsenal would have been favourite to take over from outcast Gallas, but it is understood Wenger has concerns over the defender’s fitness and will opt for Cesc Fabregas instead. Toure has also not been an automatic choice for the North London club this campaign when fit and this lack of backing from Wenger could pave the way for a January move to Man City and end his six-year stay at Arsenal.

With regards to players coming to Arsenal in January, Matthew Upson at West Ham United is said to be a £6million target for Wenger, who sold the player to Birmingham City in 2003 after Upson failed to make the grade with the Gunners after six-years at the club, according to the Sunday Express.

Wenger has always maintained an admiration for Upson, who has forced his way back into the England manager Fabio Capello’s thoughts and put in a superb performance for England in their 2-1 win against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday. So if as expected Gallas departs from Arsenal in January then a move for Upson could materialise as Wenger would need to replace the French International at the Emirates.

Adebayor Backs Fabregas To Be Arsenal Captain

Togolese International Emmanuel Adebayor is backing midfielder Cesc Fabregas to captain Arsenal, with the Gunners forward claiming that Fabregas is one of the best midfielder’s in the world.

21-year-old Fabregas has already made over 200 appearances for the North London side and is a firm favourite with the Emirates faithful and had been heavily tipped to take the armband off current skipper William Gallas in the summer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted to stick with Gallas, but the French International is reportedly now facing a fight to hold on to the captaincy after comments he made on Thursday concerning unrest within the walls of the Gunners dressing room.

24-year-old Adebayor gave his backing for Fabregas to be captain at the Emirates in the future before the Gallas outburst, but in the light of recent events the EURO 2008 winner could be promoted to the captaincy sooner rather than later.

“He's got the character. He can be Arsenal captain in the future, for sure. He is a good person,” Adebayor told skysports.com

“He's one of the best midfielders in the world. I think everyone knows that. He's a very good player and he is enjoying himself at Arsenal.”

Other substantiated reports have suggested Arsenal are holding a meeting to discuss the next captain, which if true would put Fabregas in the frame along with Kolo Toure, who is vice-captain and outside chance Manuel Almunia the 2nd vice-captain.