No Cup final promises for Campbell

ARSENE WENGER yesterday refused to promise England defender Sol Campbell a place in the club’s FA Cup final line-up against Manchester United.

The emergence of Philippe Senderos at the heart of the Arsenal defence has given Wenger a real selection headache as the Millennium Stadium showdown with Sir Alex Ferguson's side approaches.

Since Senderos was catapulted into Wenger's first choice starting XI, the Londoners have conceded just one goal. But, with two games this week, Wenger may well opt to give Senderos a rest and hand Campbell the chance to get back into the groove.

The 30-year-old injured an ankle against Manchester United on February 1 but has been fit for the best part of a month.

However, the Arsenal manager has made it clear that his decision will not be influenced just because it is the FA Cup final.

Wenger said: "Philippe is playing well and is deserving of his place but I also feel frustrated for Sol because he is working hard to get back in the team.

"I just have to make a decision and I will try to be fair. It's a fair competition between them, Sol will get his opportunity again but, as I say, Philippe is doing well.

"He is on a wave of improvement where he seems to develop from game to game so you have to keep him on that wave. If you were to cut him down now, it certainly wouldn't help him. I'm honestly not thinking about possible FA Cup line-ups at the moment. I don't see the FA Cup final as a reward for players I just see it as the next game in which you want to field your best possible team.

"You don't just pick somebody because they have played the whole season, you pick your best team for that game.

While Wenger struggles with his central defensive dilemma, Jose Reyes has given the first hint that he may be ready to stay at Arsenal.

The Spanish striker has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer after numerous reports suggesting that he was homesick in London.

However, Reyes, who scored Arsenal's second in their 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Highbury on Sunday afternoon, is beginning to love life in the capital.