Croatia striker Eduardo is out for nine months after breaking his leg and suffering a dislocated ankle against Birmingham last weekend.

However, the Gunners boss insists he will not look to push Van Persie - who has seen his own campaign blighted by injury - before he is ready.

The Holland star will not feature in tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium but there remains the possibility he could be included in the squad for next week's Champions League trip to AC Milan.

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We will not rush Robin van Persie back, but the news is quite good.

"It is difficult to say, we go step by step, but he should come back into normal training very, very quickly now.

"Maybe I am being a little over-cautious in my statements, but I do not want to put any special pressure on him."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is surprised Arsenal have mounted such a strong title challenge post-Thierry Henry but believes in Emmanuel Adebayor they have another world-class striker.

O'Neill has been impressed by Togo international Adebayor since he joined the Gunners from Monaco two years ago.

The 24-year-old has come of age this term to fill Henry's boots and help Arsenal to the top of the Premier League by netting 19 goals.

O'Neill said: "I am not surprised about Adebayor filling the void left by Henry. I am not surprised about him being a top-class player. Just over two years ago, he showed signs of being a great player.

"He was having the occasional game when Henry was missing and the occasional game alongside him and you could see the potential."

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton could be part of unique treble this season but he will feel little satisfaction if it happens.

The 23-year-old helped Spurs win the Carling Cup last Sunday and could pick up a Clydesdale Bank Premier League winners' medal for his games at Rangers before moving south in January.

Spurs are also in the hunt for the UEFA Cup but Hutton is ineligible as his former club are still in the competition.

"It would be a bit weird to get an SPL medal, having not played for Rangers for the second half of the season," he said ahead of tomorrow's Premier League trip to Birmingham.

"I suppose they would send the medal in the post to me! It would be strange. But, of course, I'll accept the medal - who wouldn't? I certainly won't be sending it back!

Striker Mikael Forssell is hoping Birmingham's battling draw with leaders Arsenal can kick-start their fight to stay in the Premier League.

Alex McLeish's side snatched a 2-2 draw despite having only 10 men for 87 minutes after Martin Taylor's red card for his challenge on broken leg victim Eduardo da Silva.

It has moved them a point above the bottom three but now they face another demanding test this weekend.

Forssell told PA Sport: "Our thoughts were with Eduardo after what happened but it was a fantastic point for us. To get two draws with Arsenal this season is a big achievement.

"Hopefully the result last weekend can be a spark for us. We know we need more points at home. Now we need to try and keep this momentum going."

Derby manager Paul Jewell has described reports of him instilling a boot camp mentality at the club as "a load of nonsense".

Jewell laid into his players after last weekend's 2-0 defeat at former club Wigan, calling their performance a "disgrace".

Reports suggested Jewell had been putting them through a punishing training regime this week ahead of tomorrow's home game with Sunderland.

But Jewell said: "I'm sure there are lots of managers up and down the country who have had their teams in earlier than my team so it's no boot camp, that's a load of nonsense."

Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has warned his team-mates they can take nothing for granted as they attempt to end their awayday woes at doomed Derby.

The Black Cats may never have a better chance to collect their first win of the season on the road than at Pride Park, where the Rams have collected three points only once during the current campaign, against Newcastle.

However, Bardsley knows Paul Jewell's men will be fighting for pride if nothing else - they are currently 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table - and will not give up without a scrap.

The 22-year-old full-back said: "We know it is going to be a difficult game - you can't just say because it is Derby and they are bottom of the league that it is going to be easy.

"We know it's going to be difficult - the top teams have been there and found it quite difficult.

"But I am sure we will go there and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully come away with three points."