Family illness could force Campbell out

Arsenal will make a late decision on whether central defender Sol Campbell is ready to play against Internazionale.

Campbell missed training yesterday to be with a close family member who was suddenly taken ill. The relative is now in a stable condition and, provided there is no change, he will line up against the Italians.

The loss of Campbell would be a severe blow but manager Arsene Wenger has told the player that family comes first and that if he needs to miss the game then he must do so without hesitation.

If Campbell feels unable to play, his place will go to Pascal Cygan or Martin Keown. It seems certain there will be disappointments for Dennis Bergkamp, Ray Parlour and Edu.

Bergkamp was anxious to face the team he left to join Arsenal in 1995 for £7.5million but his place is set to go to Sylvain Wiltord, who was rested for the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Saturday.

Parlour also played against Portsmouth but Fredrik Ljungberg is favourite to return after he was given a break following his two international matches with Sweden, while Edu will give way to his Brazilian compatriot Gilberto Silva.

Dutch midfielder Andy van der Meyde, who joined Inter from Ajax during the summer, is set to resume after an upper thigh injury, but Belozoglu Emre is doubtful due to a right thigh injury.

Inter will be without strikers Alvaro Recoba and Christian Vieri, who has severe bruises on both ankles.

Meanwhile, Wenger continued to defend midfielder Robert Pires over Saturday's controversial penalty against Portsmouth.

"He went down because he hit a leg," the Arsenal manager said. "Did he do it on purpose? I don't know. He told me no. Only God maybe will be able to decide.

"It wasn't an obvious penalty, certainly not. I conceded that straight after the game. The biggest decisions the referees have to make in the box now is the penalties."

  • Arsenal v Inter Milan, Highbury, tonight, 7.45pm (Live on Sky Sports 2)

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