Vieira to lead Gunners

Patrick Vieira is fit to lead Arsenal as they start the defence of their Premiership title against Birmingham on Sunday.

Vieira received treatment to his knee following the tackle on him by Steven Gerrard in the Community Shield but will captain the side at Highbury and Wenger must decide whether to start Gilberto Silva alongside him.

Kanu is ruled out with an ankle injury and while Francis Jeffers is on the comeback trail, Robert Pires, Fredrik Ljungberg and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are still long-term absentees.

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