Injured Seaman is under pressure

Arsenal's David Seaman will undergo a fitness test before tonight's clash with Werder Bremen - and the 36-year-old England goalkeeper…

Arsenal's David Seaman will undergo a fitness test before tonight's clash with Werder Bremen - and the 36-year-old England goalkeeper is under pressure to hold his place ahead of Austria's Alex Manninger.

Seaman has had an injury-plagued season: he was out for 13 games at the start of the season with a calf strain that reoccurred in November and again sidelined him. He also missed the weekend win against Tottenham with a neck strain.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has taken the precaution of bringing third-choice keeper John Lukic (39), for a possible role on the substitutes' bench in case he needs Manninger to take over again.

The 22-year-old from Salzburg has also suffered a blow this week. He was dropped by Austria after coach Otto Baric, under pressure after a string of heavy defeats, said he cannot go on picking players who are not first choice for their clubs.

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Baric has reportedly advised Manninger to quit Arsenal and look for another club who will give him regular first-team involvement.

But Wenger, who knows a clean sheet tonight will knock out Werder Bremen and put Arsenal through to the semi-finals, insists: "I still need Alex to be patient because his time will come - but not yet. For me, Seaman is still the best goalkeeper by far in England and until it is shown otherwise he will stay as Arsenal's first choice."

Seaman is the only injury doubt as Arsenal start with a 2-0 lead from the first leg in London last week.

Emmanuel Petit may return to the Arsenal midfield after recovering from a hamstring injury, but Dennis Bergkamp has a calf injury and did not travel.

Wenger is also unlikely to risk England centre-back Martin Keown, who has missed the last three games with a broken right hand. He said: "Martin is still in some pain."

Werder Bremen (Probable): Rost, Frings, Baumann, Barten, Weidener, Eilts, Trares, Herzog, Bode, Pizarro, Ailton.

Arsenal: (Probable): Seaman (or Manninger), Dixon, Luzhny, Adams, Silvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit, Overmars (or Ljungberg), Kanu, Henry.