Reyes of hope for Wolves

“I think it was very brave,” Wenger said yesterday of the 20-year-old forward. “I did not think he was in a state where he was ready to play but he wanted to and you have to give him credit for that.”

Reyes’ likely absence adds to Arsenal’s injury problems up front. Sweden star Freddie Ljungberg (rib) is set to be out of action for at least “two or three weeks”, according to Wenger; Sylvain Wiltord (ankle) needs “three more weeks” and Jeremie Aliadere (knee) “two more weeks”.

Meanwhile, Kanu is still on African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria.

It all adds to the burden on star striker Thierry Henry as Arsenal look to preserve their status as the only unbeaten team in the league this season.

Meanwhile Manchester United travel to 14th-placed Everton, the Merseyside club just five points above the drop zone.

Off the field, the legal row between United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and John Magnier, the club’s major shareholder, over the stud rights to champion racehorse Rock of Gibraltar shows no sign of ending soon.

But United’s French centre-back Mikael Silvestre insisted it had had no effect on the players. He said: “We have Everton on Saturday and Middlesbrough the following Wednesday so we don’t have time to think about the other stuff.”

Tottenham, who like Everton also have 25 points, welcome struggling Portsmouth to White Hart Lane looking to banish the memory of their extraordinary midweek FA Cup defeat against Manchester City.

Despite being 3-0 ahead at their White Hart Lane home, Spurs still managed to lose the fourth round replay 4-3 as their premiership rivals staged one of the all-time great Cup fightbacks.

At the other end of the table, fifth-placed Liverpool travel to Bolton who are still without Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha. Elsewhere, Aston Villa boss David O’Leary is up against his old club when bottom of the table Leeds United travel to Villa Park.

On Sunday, third meets fourth when London rivals Chelsea and Charlton clash at Stamford Bridge. The match is set to be Scott Parker’s first game against Charlton since his controversial 10-million pound move to Chelsea last month and the England midfielder’s character, as much as his skill, could be put to the test like never before. Third-placed Chelsea are 12 points ahead of Charlton who are one of several teams with a realistic chance of claiming the fourth and final Champions League place.