Wenger weighs up gamble on Vieira
Wenger admits the Gunners could effectively be out of the competition if they are beaten by Dynamo Kiev, especially if Inter Milan also manage to overcome Lokomotiv Moscow in the group’s other game.
No wonder, therefore, that Wenger is determined to give captain Vieira every possible chance of starting tonight’s game despite a recent thigh problem.
The France international has been out of action for the past three weeks but was on the flight to Ukraine yesterday, along with fellow injury doubt Freddie Ljungberg, after coming through the past two training sessions.
The chances are that Wenger will not play both Vieira and Ljungberg, but the Arsenal skipper has become something of a talismanic figure for his club, just like his predecessor Tony Adams.
“Patrick is the captain and even if he doesn’t start the game, he could come on and help us, so I would have taken him on the flight anyway,” revealed Wenger.
“I am tempted right now to start him but I haven’t made up my mind yet.
“You have to be 100% to play in games like this but I think that it’s become the same with Patrick now as it was with Tony and his presence within the side.
“Sometimes I pushed Tony into games when he had the kind of fitness that Patrick has now.
“But centre-back is a different position as you need to run less and, with a lot of experience, you can get away with it. In midfield, you’ve got no choice but to run.”
Vieira, meanwhile, set his sights on making his comeback against Kiev in his column in the club’s matchday programme for last Saturday’s game against Chelsea.
“I’m aiming to be back on Tuesday night. The final decision will come from the boss because I’ve been out for a few weeks but I have worked really hard physically with our fitness coach, Tony Colbert,” he said.
Even if Vieira is fit, the fact remains that Arsenal have secured just one point from their opening two group games, with their 3-0 home defeat by Inter followed by a goalless draw away to Lokomotiv Moscow.
That gives them perilously little room for manoeuvre and Wenger admitted: “This is a game we must get something out of.
If Inter win, then they will have qualified so there is only one spot left. Then it’s forbidden for us to lose against Kiev as they’d have seven points and it wouldn’t be in our hands any more.
“If Inter win, we need at least a point and possibly a victory in Kiev.”
While Dennis Bergkamp has not travelled due to his fear of flying, Martin Keown is out with a calf problem, leaving the choice between Vieira and Edu as Wenger’s only real selection decision.
His other priority will have to be to ensure that his team are not disillusioned by their failure to win any of their past eight Champions League ties.
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