ROME - BOTH AS Roma and Arsenal have been hit by striker concerns ahead of their Champions League second round, second leg clash at the Stadio Olimpico here on Wednesday.
Arsenal's Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor has been ruled out already while Roma are sweating on the fitness of their emblematic striker Francesco Totti.
But while Roma are scrimping around to try to find fit attacking players, Arsenal are set to welcome back two young guns from the treatment table.
Brazilian-born Croatia striker Eduardo proved his fitness on Sunday following a hamstring problem by scoring a cracker in Arsenal's FA Cup victory over Burnley while Theo Walcott made his first appearance since shoulder surgery in November in a 20-minute cameo.
It has all left Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feeling buoyed despite the absence of Adebayor, sidelined for a month with a hamstring problem.
'I haven't made the team yet but Walcott and Eduardo will certainly be in the squad. The more resources you have the better it is and they are two guys who can score goals,' Wenger said.
Scoring is something Roma have to do to have any chance of avoiding elimination.
And they are desperately hoping Totti will overcome the knee problem he has been suffering from all season.
'The test Francesco underwent (Monday) came up with a negative, and that's a good thing,' said the club's physiotherapist Vito Scala.
'(Tuesday) he will try to train with the team, even if he feels pain. That would not be something to worry about because testing pain at this stage (of recuperation) is perfectly normal.
'I'm hopeful because I know Francesco and I know he will pull out all the stops to try to line up on Wednesday night.' Roma's problems are not just confined to Totti, though, as there is also a fitness doubt over his usual replacement Mirko Vucinic while attacking midfielder Simone Perrotta is definitely out and midfield enforcer Daniele De Rossi is suspended. -- AFP
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