Bergkamp rib injury probably self-inflicted

DENNIS BERGKAMP has told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger it was probably an elbow in the ribs that put him out of last week’s bitterly-fought clash with Tottenham and now threatens his place for the visit to Southampton on Saturday.

But it is not yet another tale of dirty deeds to emerge in the aftermath of the north London derby because Bergkamp revealed it was more than likely his own elbow that did the damage.

Wenger said: "Dennis had to come off with inflammation of his ribcage and we don't really know where it came from. But he thinks maybe when he fell, he hit himself with his elbow."

Dutch star Bergkamp, 33, certainly went down heavily after a challenge from Tottenham's Dean Richards.

But scans have revealed no serious damage.

Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who misses Sweden's friendly against Slovakia with a knee injury sustained when Tottenham's Ledley King stood on him is a bigger doubt for the Saints clash.

And Wenger is virtually resigned to resting Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva after the world champions insisted on him playing in a friendly in South Korea last night.

Better injury news for Arsenal's Champions League prospects, however, concerns Spanish giants Valencia. They are due to visit Highbury in a second round group match on December 10 but almost certainly without star forwards, Pablo Aimar and Rufete.

Aimar, the latest Argentinean ace to be tagged "the new Maradona", has torn a thigh muscle and the club's chief medical officer Jorge Candel is reportedly saying: "He will be out for at last four weeks."

And Rufete, who grabbed Valencia's winner against Liverpool at Anfield in the first round group, is expected to be out even longer after damaging a calf muscle.