Petit in fitness race

Chelsea’s French midfielder Emmanuel Petit is battling to recover from a foot injury in time to face his former club Arsenal on Sunday, with manager Claudio Ranieri reportedly trying to seal a loan-deal that would bring Lazio’s Dino Baggio to Stamford Bridge.

Petit missed Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton with a swollen instep, leaving Chelsea short of cover in midfield and Ranieri forced to start with two wingers, Boudewijn Zenden and Jesper Gronkjaer.

The manager substituted £15million striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at half-time at St Mary’s but insisted the Dutchman will be staying at Chelsea despite being linked with a move to Barcelona and was being saved for Sunday’s clash with the champions who beat Chelsea 2-0- in the FA Cup final in May.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Cudicini; Melchiot, Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro, Gronkjaer, de Lucas, Lampard, Petit, Stanic, Zenden, Zola, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen, Cole, Keenan, Ferrer, de Goey.