Wenger at a loss to replace banned Arsenal quartet
The Gunners boss was already drawing up Plan B to counteract the absence of Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour, Lauren and Martin Keown.
The quartet are banned as a result of FA punishment for their confrontation with Manchester United players at the end of the 0-0 Old Trafford draw in September.
But now Wenger has decided he cannot risk Gilberto Silva in the encounter with Steve Bruce’s side either.
The midfielder, who played the full 90 minutes for Brazil in the 3-3 World Cup qualifying draw with Uruguay in the small hours of this morning, is not due to touch down on English soil until this afternoon.
Silva had hoped to play but his manager yesterday ruled he must rest in preparation for Tuesday’s vital Champions League clash with Inter Milan at the San Siro.
“Gilberto played at midnight and he was on for the whole game. It would be too big a risk to play him at Birmingham,” Wenger said. “We play on Tuesday night at Inter Milan so I don’t think it will be a good situation for Saturday or the midweek game.”
Wenger admits he has been left baffled by the loss of five key personnel for the encounter with the Blues and their Gunners old boy Matthew Upson.
“Lauren, Parlour, Vieira, Keown and Gilberto are not available,” he said.
“So we have no problem in offensive areas but I have big problems in midfield and at the back.”
In defence, Wenger will either play 18-year-old Justin Hoyte in Lauren’s place or recall Pascal Cygan at centre-back and shunt Kolo Toure to right-back.
Wenger admitted: “I don’t know what I’ll do in the middle, either.”
However, despite Lauren’s absence, Wenger ruled out recalling Moritz Volz from his season-long loan at Fulham.
The full-back has impressed for Chris Coleman’s men but Wenger does not plan to take up utilise the 24-hour recall clause in his contract at Loftus Road.
Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United may lose Quinton Fortune for three weeks in the New Year.
The 26-year-old, who has developed into a key member of the United side this season, is likely to be on international duty with South Africa in the African Nations Cup from January 24 to February 14.
Fortune, who has played at both left-back and midfield, could miss four of United matches in the Premiership and FA Cup.
Meanwhile, United striker Diego Forlan scored twice for Uruguay during their 3-3 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil in Curitiba.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
