Arsenal trio in injury scare

Arsenal fear Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, pictured during Euro 2004, and Sol Campbell could all miss the start of the English Premiership season because of injuries suffered during Euro 2004

Arsenal fear Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell could all miss the start of the English Premiership season because of injuries suffered during Euro 2004.

"The most worrying problem we face is that three big players could miss the start of the season because of what happened at the European Championships," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told British newspapers.

"That would be a massive blow to us because we want to start well and show we can be as competitive and as strong as we were last season."

Arsenal, who went through the league unbeaten last season, kick off away to Everton on August 15 before facing Middlesbrough a week later.

"Sol has no chance of playing in our first match because of his Achilles problem and Thierry has a similar injury which will probably keep him out, too," Wenger added.

"Patrick has the best chance because he could possibly be fit in 10 days.

"But he has suffered one setback already with his thigh problem in training and we do not want to push him.

"The pitches in Portugal were very, very hard and when you have only four weeks from the end of the tournament before the start of the Premiership programme there is no time to get the players fit."

And he hit out at national coaches who force unfit players to play.

"It is unfortunate that sometimes national teams will put pressure on players to play when they are not fully fit, and it is the clubs who suffer the consequences," he said.

Wenger insisted skipper Vieira will remain at Highbury, even though the speculation linking him with a big-money move to Real Madrid refuses to go away.

"Of course we have spoken about his position but I would never reveal details of private talks with my players, otherwise I would risk losing their confidence," he said.

"But what I will say is that I feel 100 per cent sure in my own mind that Patrick will remain an Arsenal player.

"Hes made a big commitment to the club. He has played for Arsenal for eight years already and I cannot see why hed want to walk away now when he still has three years on his contract.

"If he was coming to the end of his contract then perhaps the situation would be different, but Patrick remains a key member of the team."

Brazil midfielder Edu, 26, is set to sign an extension to his Highbury contract before the start of the season.