No call up for Bergkamp
Bergkamp produced a masterful display in the Gunners' 3-0 Barclaycard Premiership win at Birmingham on Saturday when a class finish provided him with his first goal of the campaign.
He responded to the challenge of being given the captain's armband for the first time in his nine-season spell at Highbury in the absence of the suspended Patrick Vieira.
On the evidence of that display, Bergkamp in what may be his final campaign for Arsenal still has plenty to offer. Even with his fear of flying meaning Bergkamp would have to undertake a lengthy journey by road the Dutchman's presence in the San Siro Stadium could be vital in a must-win game.
But after witnessing Bergkamp's master-class performance at St Andrews, Wenger will still not put the veteran forward's body through such a schedule at the age of 34.
He said: "Dennis was very pacy and sharp, took his goal well and did fine for the whole 90 minutes. I was pleased with his performance. At the moment I think he is sharper than last season and he can still make a difference with his pace when he goes behind defences. His finish for his goal was sheer class.
"But he will not be going to Italy. It is too short a space of time between Saturday and the game on Tuesday for him to travel so far just three days at his age."
Arsenal were without Vieira, Martin Keown, Lauren and Ray Parlour through suspension as well as the injured Sylvain Wiltord but they still won comfortably against Steve Bruce's side.
It was a statement of intent after their strength in depth had been questioned following Wenger's lack of summer activity in the transfer market.
Thierry Henry, who set up all three of his side's goals, said: "A lot of people have been talking and speculating about how we are going to cope with all the missing players.
"But we've been doing that for ages during the double campaign, last season and since the beginning of this season.
"We've played so many times without key players. But you have to deal with it, and we have shown many times that we can cope with that."
Blues captain Kenny Cunningham, at fault for Arsenal's first goal, is concerned that his side have still not hit top gear this season despite their high Premiership placing.
City are still lying fifth but have collected only one win from the last seven league games, and Cunningham is aware that complacency must not creep in. He said: "We can take confidence from the start we've had to the season, but I still feel as if we haven't hit top gear. Form-wise we've not shown our 'A' game regularly.
"I hope over the next few weeks we'll be able to grab a few victories so that when we enter the second half of the season the 40 point target normally needed to be safe is within our sights."
Midfielder Robbie Savage claimed: "At 1-0 we were always in the game against Arsenal. We had a couple of chances, battled and pressurised.
"But the gaffer Steve Bruce said before the game that they are dangerous on the break, and the second goal which came after we had a corner proved him right."
Fredrik Ljungberg gave Arsenal a fourth-minute lead. But the home side made the Gunners work hard before Bergkamp's sublime finish 11 minutes from time settled the issue and then Robert Pires added the icing on the cake.
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