Arsene Wenger has admitted Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss Arsenal’s Champions League tie with Roma on Wednesday but he is hopeful that Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure will be fit.
Adebayor has been out for a month after suffering a hamstring injury in the goalless draw with Tottenham and will not travel to Italy for the last 16 second leg clash.
Although Toure missed Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Burnley with a minor injury, Wenger believes he has a good chance of recovering in time.
“Adebayor definitely won’t be able to play, but I will wait to see what the report is on Kolo before I decide what my starting XI will be,” Wenger said.
Despite Adebayor’s absence, Wenger will have more attacking options after Eduardo and Theo Walcott returned during Sunday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over against Burnley.
Walcott admits he is not fit enough to start yet, but he hopes to make an impact from the substitutes bench in the Stadio Olympico.
“I need a few more training sessions, a few more games coming off the bench and hopefully if I am doing well the boss will put me in,” Walcott said.
“I am just looking forward to another experience in Italy. In Arsenal training, you obviously dont want to injure your own players so you tend to be a little softer but matchdays are totally different.
“I still haven’t experienced getting clattered yet so that’s the next test but our new doctor has come from a rugby background. He has dealt with two dislocated shoulders a year and he said, touch wood, I’ll be OK.”
With Walcott and Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas set to return by the start of April, Arsenal are approaching full strength again at a crucial stage of the season.
