Arsenal announce Edu absence

No panic
Speaking after the 3-1 League Cup defeat of Everton FC on Wednesday, manager Arsène Wenger said he did not know how long the Brazil midfield player would be out for. However, the manager subsequently told the club's official website: "We will miss Edu for four or five weeks, until the end of December. With him and Gilberto both out I feel it is too many. But we hope they will be back before the transfer window opens so there will be no need to buy."

Campbell out
Edu also joins Sol Campbell and young midfield player Ryan Smith on the sidelines. Campbell has sat out the last three matches with a calf problem and will also miss tomorrow's derby against his former club Tottenham Hotspur FC. "It is too early to predict when Sol Campbell will come back," said Wenger. "The only thing I can say is the news is quite good." Smith, 18 on Wednesday, is out for six weeks after picking up a medial knee ligament injury against Everton.

Two games left
Arsenal are second in Group E, three points behind the leaders PSV Eindhoven, their next opponents in the Netherlands on 24 November. The Gunners conclude against Rosenborg BK at Highbury on 7 December.