Gunners to check on Vermaelen

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will be assessed after coming off with a calf problem towards the end of the Carling Cup defeat of Bolton.

The Belgium international started Tuesday night's 2-1 fourth round win after two months out with an Achilles injury, playing 84 minutes at the Emirates Stadium before being replaced by debutant Daniel Boateng.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed Vermaelen requested to be taken off after a problem in his calf, but said: "He did very well but he had to come off for a calf problem. I hope it is not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday. I do not know yet what has happened."

He added: "We will have to test him tomorrow (Wednesday) but it did not look too bad.

"He has been out for a long time and only had one training session yesterday with the team.

"I didn't expect a game of that intensity because it was a really tough game for a centre-back tonight as they (Bolton) put us under pressure in the second half.

"I don't think it is a calf strain, I think it is just a tight calf because he has not played 90 minutes for three months.

"He wanted to come off. In fairness, I did not want to take him off because I thought it was stupid with four minutes to go in case we conceded a goal.

"He was adamant he could not go on so I hope it is not too bad."