Arsenal injury worries pile up

Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp gestures after receiving a yellow card against Fulham in August 2005. Bergkamp and Gilberto are doubtful for Arsenal's English Premiership game against Birmingham City on Octiber 2.

Dennis Bergkamp and Gilberto are doubtful for Arsenal's English Premiership game against Birmingham City on Sunday.

The Dutchman hurt his back and groin in training ahead of the 0-0 draw at West Ham while the Brazilian left Upton Park on crutches after injuring his ankle late in the game.

Both missed the 2-1 Champions League win at Ajax on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and striker Robin van Persie return from suspension but Thierry Henry (groin) and Philippe Senderos (back) are out.

Van Persie returns to partner Jose Antonio Reyes up front.

"Dennis Bergkamp has just restarted training again," manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's website. "But I think he will be short for Sunday.

"I dont know about Gilberto yet. We will have to wait until Saturday. He is starting to run again. He has a little chance to make it but he was not out for a long time. So that is a positive. Both of them probably have a small chance. Thierry and Senderos are definitely out."

Henrys last game was the French sides 1-0 victory in Ireland on September 7. International football takes over once more after Sunday but Wenger is not confident his top scorer will be ready to return when Arsenals programme resumes at West Brom on October 15.

"It looks a bit early," he said. "With Thierry, we have decided to go for a slow progression. Only his pain barrier decides how far he can go and that is very difficult to predict at the moment."

Henry could also miss Arsenal's next Champions League tie away to Sparta Prague on Oct 18 as well as the home game against Manchester City on October 22.