Cole blow for Gunners

Arsenal will be without Ashley Cole for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United after the England left-back suffered a knee injury in Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Chelsea.

Emerging 18-year-old French defender Gael Clichy, who proved an able deputy for Cole when he covered a three-match ban in December, as well as the Premiership win at Stamford Bridge, is set to replace him again.

Gilberto Silva is hoping for a recall to the midfield and Jose Reyes is also contesting a place. Striker Jeremie Aliadiere is likely to be back in the squad after a thigh injury, but Sylvain Wiltord and Ray Parlour are both still ruled out.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Clichy, Gilberto Silva, Edu, Vieira, Pires, Henry, Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Reyes, Keown, Cygan, Kanu, Aliadiere, Bentley, Stack.