Wenger gambles on Taylor as Seaman ruled out

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has been forced into a major goalkeeping gamble as he delicately balances European and Premiership ambitions after David Seaman had to put his 1,000th senior appearance on hold.

Seaman, 39, was due to clock up his milestone against Blackburn at Ewood Park today, but was ruled out with a hamstring injury which also makes him doubtful for Wednesday's trip to Valencia where Arsenal's Champions League fate will be decided.

And although 22-year-old Stuart Taylor is the only other eligible goalkeeper in the Champions League apart from untried teenager Craig Holloway Wenger has decided to put him in against Blackburn rather than Frenchman Guillaume Warmuz.

To add to Wenger's worries, skipper Patrick Vieira is also out with a swollen knee as well as centre-back Sol Campbell, who failed a fitness test on the Achilles injury that sidelined him against Roma in midweek.

The goalkeeping issue, with Warmuz cup-tied in Europe having played for Lens earlier this season, is the biggest problem however.

And although Wenger is hopeful Seaman will be fit for the trip to Spain, there can be no guarantees ahead of the vital tie from which the Gunners need to take a point.

"You have got to be positive and I think it is logical to play Stuart Taylor tomorrow," said Wenger.

"Injuries can always happen but he came in before when David had a hip problem against Manchester City a few weeks ago and I believe he is the next full England goalkeeper."

Wenger said he tried earlier this season to obtain special dispensation from UEFA to register Warmuz, 33, for European action, but had the application summarily rejected.

But he added: "We feel David's injury is just slight and that if he hasn't torn any fibres he will play as normal on Wednesday.

"It looks like it is coming from his back or his hip because he didn't feel

it at all during the game against Roma but then gave it a trial yesterday and couldn't make it. He will have a scan and we could have the results tomorrow," he said.

Wenger is well aware it is a critical stage of the season and his side's treble ambitions could either dramatically collapse or soar spectacularly in four games over the next 10 days.

Arsenal need a draw in Valencia to ensure progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League but there is no doubt their bid to retain the Premiership title is at least as important to them.

That is why Vieira's absence with a knee injury tomorrow is another major blow, even though Wenger says there is no doubt the midfield dynamo will be ready to resume on Wednesday.

Wenger said: "I just don't know with Sol Campbell. It is a surprise he is still out because at one stage last Tuesday he was 50-50 to play against Roma and I only didn't take the gamble because if it goes wrong he can be out for a few weeks.

"I still hope he will play on Wednesday but with Patrick this is just a one-off miss tomorrow. There is no ligament damage at all but the knee is swollen badly and you can't play somebody when there is so much liquid there."

Arsenal need a lift after consecutive disappointing home draws against Chelsea and Roma games in which the integrity of two of their players, Francis Jeffers and Martin Keown were questioned following incidents which brought about a penalty and a sending off.

But Wenger, true to form, continues to defend his stars: "I won't tolerate cheating in any shape or form.

"I have watched the videos of both games and it was a just penalty when Jeffers was brought down against Chelsea and Totti deserved to be sent off when he caught Keown in an eye with a hand."

Wenger, whose side face high-riding Everton next Sunday just two days before an FA Cup replay trip to Chelsea, said: "They are big games every time now that we are so close to the end in March and still looking for three trophies.

"Blackburn will give us a big test because for me they have a high technical level and can fight. We have a big squad and my choice of who plays from one game to another is part gut-feeling but mostly rational analysis of how the players feel physically.

But whatever the case, you never want to be without Patrick Vieira."We will soon have to think about Valencia but the best preparation for that game will be to win at Blackburn," he said.