William Gallas is rated only 50/50 for Arsenal's Premier League clash at home to Chelsea on Sunday, while Kieran Gibbs is out for three months.

Gunners centre-back Gallas has an eye problem and could miss the visit of the league leaders to the Emirates Stadium, while full-back Gibbs will not return until February at the earliest following an operation on his foot.

Veteran Mikael Silvestre is on stand-by to fill in at centre-half, while Armand Traore should fill in on the left following Gibbs' injury.

Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin will be available despite needing staples in a wound after a clash of heads with Gallas in the 2-0 Champions League home win over Standard Liege on Tuesday night, but strikers Robin van Persie (ankle) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) remain sidelined so England forward Theo Walcott could make only a second start of an injury-hit season.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee) is close to a comeback, but Abou Diaby (calf), Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee) are still out.

Kick-off is at 4pm.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Traore, Song, Denilson, Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott, Mannone, Eduardo, Eboue, Vela, Senderos, Wilshere, Silvestre, Ramsey, Rosicky.