William Gallas
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3059949/first-team/fc-porto-v-arsenal FC Porto v Arsenal
UEFA Champions League
Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 19:45
Gallas and Diaby return to face FC Porto
William Gallas and
Abou Diaby are back in the Arsenal squad for Wednesday's Champions League game against Porto.
Both Frenchmen sat out the weekend win over Wigan but Gallas (calf) and Diaby (abdominal strain) could return as Arsène Wenger's side look to cement top spot in Group G.
The Arsenal manager announced the good news just before flying out to Portugal but, in a long injury bulletin, he also revealed a handful of concerns ahead of the Premier League trip to Middlesbrough.
Samir Nasri (ankle) is definitely out of Saturday's game,
Gael Clichy (hamstring) and
Cesc Fabregas (knee) are doubts while
Bacary Sagna is suffering from 'flu.
Kolo Toure (calf),
Robin van Persie (thigh) and
Emmanuel Adebayor (rested) are also omitted from Wednesday's squad but all should return on Teeside.
"
Bacary Sagna has 'flu and
Gael Clichy has a hamstring, he has a little chance of playing on Saturday," said Wenger. "
Kolo Toure has a recurrence of his calf injury, he should not be long but it was not enough to play [at Porto].
"Cesc is a doubt for Saturday, he got a kick on his knee on Saturday.
Samir Nasri is definitely out for Saturday, he will be out for two or three weeks.
Robin van Persie has been left behind. He will be OK for Saturday, he has a little stiffness in his thigh.
Emmanuel Adebayor is rested."
All of which means there is room in Wenger's 18-man squad for some of the Club's Carling Cup regulars -
Kieran Gibbs,
Gavin Hoyte,
Mark Randall,
Fran Merida,
Jack Wilshere and
Jay Simpson.
The squad is as follows:
1.
Manuel Almunia
21.
Lukasz Fabianski
10.
William Gallas
18.
Mikael Silvestre
40.
Kieran Gibbs
41.
Gavin Hoyte
27.
Emmanuel Eboue
20.
Johan Djourou
17.
Alex Song
15.
Denilson
16.
Aaron Ramsey
47.
Mark Randall
2.
Abou Diaby
43.
Fran Merida
19.
Jack Wilshere
26.
Nicklas Bendtner
12.
Carlos Vela
50.
Jay Simpson