Bendtner ruled out after car accident

Arsenal will be without Nicklas Bendtner for tomorrow’s Champions League game against Olympiakos after the striker was involved in a minor car accident.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: “Nicklas did not practice because he had a car accident yesterday.

“Fortunately there was no real long-term damage, but he was bruised and we thought it better he did not train.

“He should be back for Sunday’s game [against Blackburn].”

Bendtner, 21, was driving along the A1 yesterday morning towards South Mimms when his car left the road.

It is understood no other vehicle was involved in the incident and a Hertfordshire police spokesman said: “We were called at 10.15am to a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision.

“A black Aston Martin vehicle had left the road. The driver was not seriously injured.”

England forward Theo Walcott is expected to return from a back problem in time for the weekend, but Denilson is set for up to two months on the sidelines with a fracture to his back.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still troubled by the chest infection, so Vito Mannone will continue in his place following man-of-the-match display against Fulham.

Samir Nasri (leg), Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain out.

Team (from): Mannone, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, Eduardo, van Persie, Szczesny, Rosicky, Eboue, Silvestre, Ramsey, Gibbs, Wilshere, Vela, Watt.