Ahead of Chelsea's first visit to Arsenal's new stadium on Sunday, Gunners manager Arsène Wenger has expressed doubts over the participation of one midfielder and ruled out another.

 

Wenger has given his Czech international midfielder Tomas Rosicky a 50:50 chance of recovering from a hamstring problem in time to play at the weekend.

 

Rosicky was also absent when Arsenal drew at Stamford Bridge back in December and from the Carling Cup Final. He missed last Sunday's game against Fulham.

 

A similar injury means Freddie Ljungberg will not make his side's final home game of the season according to Wenger, who has strikers Thierry Henry (groin), Robin van Persie (foot) and Theo Walcott (shoulder) on the long-term casualty list.

 

Set to play however is William Gallas who has overcome the fitness problems to saw him miss the earlier meetings between Chelsea and Arsenal this season. The 29-year-old has been in regular action in the past two months and played at centre-back in last weekend's win over Fulham.

 

Should he line-up on Sunday, it will of course be his first game against his former team-mates since moving across London on transfer deadline day last August.

 

Gallas has given his new club 28 games this season, scoring three times, all in the league matches, and included in those appearances was last month's defeat by West Ham. So far that is Arsenal's only defeat at their new home.

 

Prior to this coming Sunday, Arsenal have won 16 and drawn 9 of their home games since moving from Highbury.

 

Chelsea won our final visit to that old stadium and despite our unbeaten record in this London derby since, early betting makes Arsenal slight favourites to win on Sunday with Coral listing odds of 13/10 the home win compared to 8/5 for Chelsea. Click on betting for a full range of odds.