Gunners may delay Vieira return

Arsenal will risk holding back skipper Patrick Vieira from Saturday’s Premiership clash with Middlesbrough at Highbury in the hope of having him at full power for the key post-Christmas fixtures against title challengers Liverpool and Chelsea.

Results of a scan have showed there is no serious damage in the groin injury which kept the Frenchman out of last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham after he had limped off against Valencia in the Champions League six days earlier.