Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must check the fitness of Dennis Bergkamp (calf) and Sylvain Wiltord (ankle) as a potential striker crisis looms ahead of Saturday's visit to West Ham.

Bergkamp is a doubt after being injured in last Sunday's 2-0 win over Birmingham while Wiltord missed out on France's midweek clash with Tunisia because of his ankle problem. It looks too early for either Kanu or Francis Jeffers to return from long-terem ankle injuries and so 19-year-old Frenchman Jeremie Aliadiere may get his first Premiership start alongside countryman Thierry Henry.

Young Ivory Coast midfielder Kolo Toure may also feature again with Wenger needing to assess the fitness of new Brazilian star Gilberto Silva, who was on international duty in midweek.

And Wenger is convinced that Arsenal stars Patrick Vieira and Ashley Cole will show their maturity and ignore the inevitable barbs from West Ham fans in the heat of a London derby at Upton Park on Saturday.

New Arsenal skipper Vieira knows he will suffer continuing abuse on the ground where two years ago he was sent off and then convicted by the Football Association of spitting at former Hammers star Neil Ruddock.

And England left-back Cole, despite being born and bred in London's East End, is also sure to come in for his share of catcalls after again having to defend himself against allegations that he is a diver.

Cole was cleared by the Football Association this week who made an unsolicited statement that no action would be sought against the 21-year-old defender over his involvement in the incident at Highbury last Sunday which saw Birmingham's Aliou Cisse sent off.

Old incidents involving Cole which led to red cards for his opponents were soon raked up - especially after former Arsenal star and ex-Leeds United manager David O'Leary accused him of "conning" referee Mike Riley.

But manager Arsene Wenger insisted: "I am not concerned about it at all because everybody knows Ashley plays a fair game and can close his ears to the crowd. I am disappointed in some of the comments about him but I have to accept that everybody in the game is entitled to an opinion. And mine is that Ashley has had some very unfair criticism. I've seen the video of the incident and it is true he jumped to try to avoid the tackle but I'm glad he did that. The tackle was not malicious but it was late and it caught him on the inside of the foot which can be very painful, right on the point of the bone. Maybe he will have some stick at Upton Park where West Ham always make the game very interesting for us but it won't affect him. Perhaps he might believe that the criticism he's had is just because he wears a red and white shirt but I know that his only focus, like the rest of the team, will be on winning the game."

West Ham should have Freddie Kanoute back from injury. French striker Kanoute missed the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle on Monday with a neck injury.

Republic of Ireland defender Gary Breen is set for his debut after being left on the bench at St James' Park.

Manager Glenn Roeder was concerned about his fitness given that he began pre-season after his new colleagues, joining the club as a free agent following a successful World Cup.

Paolo di Canio (foot) is recuperating in Italy and is expected back in England by next weekend while long-term injury victim Don Hutchison returns to training on Monday with a view to playing within a month.

�� HEAD TO HEAD NOTES

�� West Ham have registered only one home Premier League win over Arsenal.

�� The North London giants are gunning for a sixth win in ten Premiership visits to Upton Park.

�� The Hammers' only League maximum in 12 home clashes with Arsenal over 15 years, was 2-1 on 3 October, 1999 when Paulo Di Canio got a brace.

�� Arsenal have done the 'double' over West Ham four times in the Premier League.

�� WON LAST FOUR HOME PREMIERSHIP GAMES

�� Won 5 of last 9 Premiership matches

�� 1 draw in last 19 top flight encounters

�� 3 defeats in last 9 top division duels

�� Failed to find the net in 2 of the last 13 League clashes

�� Managed 3 clean sheets in last 8 top tier League outings

�� Won successive home Premier League games against Ipswich (3-1, 30 March), Charlton (2-0, 6 April), Sunderland (3-0, 20 April) and Bolton (2-1, 11 May).

�� Won eight of last nine home League matches.

�� Lost only one top division game at Upton Park since 3 November 2001 and that the 3-5 reverse against Manchester United on 16 March.

�� WON LAST 14 PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

�� BUILT AN 8 MATCH AWAY LEAGUE WINNING RUN

�� GONE 22 TOP DIVISION MATCHES WITHOUT DEFEAT

�� COMPLETED 19 AWAY LEAGUE GAMES UNDEFEATED

�� SCORED IN EACH OF LAST 38 PREMIERSHIP MATCHES

� �Won 18 of last 21 Premiership matches

�� 1 draw in last 16 top flight encounters

�� 1 defeat in last 27 top division duels

�� Failed to find the net in 1 of last 43 League clashes

�� Managed 7 clean sheets in last 8 top tier League outings

�� Dennis BERGKAMP is a hat trick away from 100 goals for Arsenal.