Clichy could return for Gunners

Posted Sunday, May 09, 2010 by PA

Left-back Gael Clichy could be available for Arsenal against Europa League finalists Fulham.

The France international may make his return from an ankle problem while Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin should start. But Tomas Rosicky (ankle), Alex Song (knee) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) are still out.

Cesc Fabregas (knee), William Gallas (calf), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Denilson (groin), goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (wrist) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain sidelined.

Arsene Wenger accepts his Arsenal squad have been on a "downer" since their Champions League exit to Barcelona, but maintains they can lift themselves to secure third place with victory.

An injury-hit Arsenal have picked up just one point from four league games since being taken apart by Lionel Messi in the Nou Camp.

Successive away defeats at Tottenham and then Wigan, when leading 2-0 with just 10 minutes left, saw any title hopes evaporate, before also losing at Blackburn on Monday.

Indeed, victory for Fulham could see arch-rivals Tottenham claim third spot and with it automatic entry into the Champions League.

Wenger called on his side to produce one final vintage Arsenal display.

"I know this match comes after a few disappointing results," he said.

"Since we have gone out of the Champions League there was a little downer in our heads, but we have enough pride and quality to finish the season well and to secure the third place."

Wenger continued: "The concern is that at the moment we have many, many players out and as well that we just lost the games without any real logic.

"We lost at Wigan, we lost at Blackburn on controversial things which are difficult to accept - but we have to live with it and we have to secure the third place which will guarantee us the Champions League spot."

Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff will miss out for Fulham.

Zamora is still recovering from an Achilles injury while Duff has been receiving treatment in an oxygen chamber for the leg injury he received against Hamburg.

Manager Roy Hodgson is hopeful both will be fit for the European showpiece against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg on Wednesday.

Hodgson will decide after training whether to rest vital first-team players in preparation for the biggest match in the club's history.