Wenger to decide on Silva

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will delay a decision whether to start with new signing Gilberto Silva in Sunday’s Community Shield until the morning of the game in Cardiff.

The Brazil midfielder has received a work permit but is still waiting for his international clearance to face Liverpool, while he is also short of match fitness.

Kanu is ruled out of the game with an ankle problem, while long-term injury victims Francis Jeffers, Robert Pires, Fredrik Ljungberg and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are also out.

Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, Gilles Grimandi, Junichi Inamoto and Richard Wright have all left the club since last season, while defender Pascal Cygan and on-loan goalkeeper Fabian Carini have arrived alongside Silva.

Provisional squad: Seaman, Taylor, Carini, Lauren, Cole, Luzhny, Campbell, Keown, Cygan, Upson, Stepanovs, Vieira, Parlour, Gilberto Silva, Edu, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp, Aliadiere, Pennant.