Dennis Bergkamp has been ruled out of Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Valencia on Wednesday - and the Dutchman is also doubtful for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham.
The 31-year-old striker will miss the visit of Valencia to Highbury because of an Achilles problem. And his fear of flying will almost certainly mean he will have no part to play in the Gunners' quest to reach the last four as manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to sanction the long drive to Spain for the return leg. Without the former Inter Milan marksman, Wenger will have to decide whether to pair Kanu or the in-form Sylvain Wiltord with leading scorer Thierry Henry against the Spanish side.
Meanwhile, the niggling injury also raises doubts over Bergkamp's chances of being fit for the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford on Sunday. Bergkamp, who missed the 2-0 Premiership win over Spurs at Highbury on Saturday, said: "I'll be missing our game against Valencia due to an Achilles injury. To make matters worse, my chances of appearing in the big derby against Spurs are also slim. I tried to do some jogging and it was clear it was no use. I've missed a lot of games in Europe this season because of the travelling situation, a few injuries and some tactical decisions by the manager. I'm gutted to miss any game whether it's in Europe or the Premiership but this is a big week so its hard to take. It could be a few days or a few weeks before the inflammation goes down. I'll just have to wait but I'm not the most patient sort. All the same it's a massive week for the club."
Filed by Pat Nugent
