Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Baptista's injury woe

29 Jan 2007 - 08:45:05

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes that Julio Baptista will be fit enough to play against Tottenham on Wednesday after confirming that the in-form Brazilian sustained a groin problem in the FA Cup fourth round clash with Bolton Wanderers.

The 25-year-old, currently on loan at the Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid, scored four goals in the 6-3 Carling Cup win at Liverpool earlier this month, before adding two more in the semi-final first leg clash at Spurs last week.

However, Baptista picked up a groin injury in the 1-1 draw with Sam Allardyce's side and is a doubt for the second leg encounter with the Gunners' North London rivals.

"We might have lost Julio Baptista again," Wenger told the club's official website.

"So if we continue to lose players I will have to choose what we go for. We check now, a groin problem, but we hope it's not too bad and he can play on Wednesday.

"I will see when we play and with whom we play because at the moment for us it is important not to lose too many players, because first of all you want your good players to be with you and we have important games coming up."