Djourou boost for Gunners

Arsenal's Johan Djourou could be fit for this weekend's Barclays Premier League match against Wolves after the Swiss Football Association played down fears over the defender's knee injury.

Djourou hobbled off during last weekend's 4-4 draw at Newcastle, sparking fears that the 24-year-old could have suffered a recurrence of the serious knee injury which restricted him to just one appearance last season.

However, Switzerland physio Cuno Wetzel said: "Johan Djourou's knee injury is clearly not as bad as first feared. The player suffered very painful bruising on the knee but, if the healing process runs as it should, Djourou could probably begin training in less than one week."

The news comes as a relief to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as his only two other fit centre-halves are Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci.

Belgium central defender Thomas Vermaelen has been out of action with an Achilles injury since September and is not expected to be back until the end of the month at the earliest.