Vieira out until December

14 April 2012

Patrick Vieira is unlikely to play again for Arsenal until December, ruling him out of the potentially crucial Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

Arsene Wenger says the Highbury captain's thigh injury needs rest and has pencilled him in for the Carling Cup tie with Wolves on 2 December.

It is yet another setback for Vieira after he made a premature return in Kiev a fortnight ago from the injury that had kept him out for almost a month.

Wenger said: "Patrick's injury just needs rest at the moment. However, I would say that he's not likely to play until December because after 17 November he is suspended for one game."

It is a blow to Arsenal's Champions League hopes ahead of tonight's must-win tie with Dynamo Kiev at Highbury and their bid to regain the Premiership title. The games Vieira is set to miss are the derby match against Tottenham on Saturday, Birmingham, Inter and Fulham.

Meanwhile, nobody will be under more scrutiny at Highbury tonight than Jens Lehmann. It was his mistake in the reverse fixture two weeks ago which provided Dynamo Kiev with the second goal in their 2-1 win.

Lehmann's concentration will be tested to the limit tonight. One slip, one goal and Arsenal could even struggle to qualify for the UEFA Cup as third-placed team in the group. Lehmann, though, is not intimidated. "It is a difficult position, but not an impossible one," he said. "There is a lot of pressure but I like it a lot."

Dennis Bergkamp did enough at Leeds last Saturday to convince Wenger he should play alongside Thierry Henry instead of Sylvain Wiltord. Wenger has also chosen two attacking midfielders in Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pires.

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Vieira out until December

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