Arsène Wenger optimistic as fears for Thomas Vermaelen prove unfounded

Arsène Wenger has been boosted by the news from Arsenal's medical department that Thomas Vermaelen has not fractured a bone his leg, as was initially feared after the defender was forced out of the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa last night. Wenger continues to rate the Belgium international as a major doubt for the game against Manchester United on Sunday and he stands to have to break up his central defensive partnership of Vermaelen and William Gallas for the first time in the Premier League this season. But Wenger has, for a change, been given a heartening fitness bulletin. "There is no fracture in Thomas's leg but his injury still has to be assessed," the manager said. "There is still a good chance he will not play on Sunday." Wenger must decide whether to start Sol Campbell or Mikaël Silvestre alongside Gallas, who himself has struggled with a back problem in recent weeks, or ask the defensive midfielder Alex Song to drop in as an emergency centre-half. Song has reported back to the club's training ground after his involvement with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, together with Emmanuel Eboué of the Ivory Coast. "Eboué and Song have been in this morning," Wenger said. "Eboué has been running outside. They are both in good shape. Tired but in good shape. Both of them are available for Sunday." Eduardo da Silva will not play against United because of the hamstring injury he suffered at Villa Park – Wenger hopes that he could come back at Chelsea on Sunday week – and Abou Diaby's return from a calf problem is projected along similar lines. Fran Mérida is Wenger's other short-term casualty, with Robin Van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou the long-term ones. The injury list, though, is not as lengthy as it has been for much of the season and the squad's optimism and self-belief was reflected by Nicklas Bendtner, who came on for Eduardo at Villa for his first action since 31 October. The striker had been out with groin trouble and he is now determined to make up for lost time. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't ready," Bendtner said. "Man United is the sort of big game you'd love to come back into. It's my plan to establish myself as the No1 striker. It is achievable, of course. If I didn't think I could do it, I wouldn't be standing here telling you I could." Jack Wilshere's loan move to Bolton Wanderers is expected to be confirmed shortly, once the documentation relating to the switch has been cleared.