Arsenal are waiting on the fitness of defender William Gallas (thigh) and midfielder Tomas Rosicky (groin/hamstring) ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premiership clash with Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium.
Captain Thierry Henry (hamstring) will probably not play again until the new year.
England teenager Theo Walcott could be handed another run-out and Cesc Fabregas looks set to return to midfield after starting the midweek win over Wigan on the bench.
Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) remain on course for a return early in 2007.
Portsmouth have midfielder Pedro Mendes back from suspension for the trip to Arsenal but Barclays Premiership joint top-scorer Kanu faces a late fitness test on a knee injury.
With Andy Cole (Achilles), Lomana LuaLua (thigh) and Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring) all out, the Nigerian is Pompey's only hope to play up front against his former club.
Centre-back Sol Campbell also returns to face former team-mates while Niko Kranjcar is pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
Arsenal squad: Lehmann, Eboue, Djourou, Toure, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Baptista, van Persie, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Adebayor, Almunia, Hleb, Hoyte, Flamini, Song, Senderos.
Portsmouth squad: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kranjcar, Kanu, Thompson, Hughes, Griffin, Douala, Koroman, O'Brien, Ashdown.
