Boss Arsene Wenger revealed: “Dennis has a thigh injury, but it is not a big one and he will have a test. Lauren also has a problem because he got two knocks on his knee but he should be okay.”

Jose Antonio Reyes is still sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected to return before the FA Cup tie with Stoke on January 9, while Gilberto, Edu and Pascal Cygan are still out.

Mathieu Flamini has, meanwhile, also emerged as a serious doubt with a thigh injury and Cesc Fabregas is likely to partner Patrick Vieira in central midfield at The Valley.

Provisional squad (from): Almunia, Lehmann, Lauren, Hoyte, Cole, Clichy, Campbell, Toure, Senderos, Vieira, Fabregas, Flamini, Pires, Ljungberg, Pennant, van Persie, Henry, Bergkamp.