Arsenal today received a welcome fitness boost for their double challenge when it was revealed that defender Ashley Cole's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.
The left-back underwent a scan and the results showed there is no damage to his medial knee ligaments, meaning it is therefore not considered to be a recurrence of his previous injury.
Although Cole will miss this weekend's game against Tottenham, the club revealed his injury is judged to be "short-term" and he should be fit for the rest of their league and FA Cup run-in, as well as England's World Cup campaign.
PA