Gunners face anxious wait over Silva's back injury

Arsenal are today anxiously awaiting the results of Gilberto Silva's medical as a specialist diagnoses the extent of his back injury.

The Brazilian midfielder missed Arsenal's 1-0 win at Manchester City on Saturday and the Gunners are waiting to find out if it is an old injury that has become inflamed - which may need around a month's rest - or something more serious.

Silva first felt the injury during the opening day 4-1 win at Everton and the worst-case scenario would rule him out of the entire group stage of Arsenal's Champions League campaign as well as crucial league games against Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea.

But there is more encouraging news concerning another international midfielder, Robert Pires. He had to pull out of the game at the City of Manchester Stadium with a foot injury but Arsenal are confident he will be fit for Wednesday's game against Rosenborg in Norway.

Sol Campbell has also given Arsene Wenger a boost by declaring he is ready to play in Norway. The England defender, who played his first game of the season against City after recovering from injury, said: "I will be able to play three games a week, no problem. The fitness is there and I feel good and sharp. If the manager wants me to play on Wednesday then I would be able to do so."

Campbell's return to fitness is also good news for England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan next month.

"This is an important time for the England team and I would love to be involved," said Campbell, who was in outstanding form at Euro 2004.

"There are several players in the squad at their peak and now we want to push on past that quarter-final stage. What we are missing, is that vital bit of luck, that rub of the green. If we get that, then we can make that step, I am sure.

"It was important that I had that break to make sure the Achilles injury healed. If I had played with it then it would have just been there all the time and not got better.

"I did a mini pre-season when I started training again and I put in a lot of hard work. It was a frustrating time with the occasional twinge and so on but I am through that now."