Diarra's omission alerts suitors

Arsenal v Tottenham - League Cup 1st round preview (7.45pm Live on Sky Sports 1): Lassana Diarra has been left out of the Arsenal team for tonight's League Cup semi-final first leg as several English clubs attempt to capitalise on his unhappiness at the Emirates and tempt him away during the transfer window this month.

At home to Spurs tonight, manager Arsene Wenger has preferred the experience of Gilberto Silva in central midfield alongside Denilson, which has come as a disappointment to Diarra as he started all three of Arsenal's League Cup ties so far this season and was outstanding in the quarter-final victory at Blackburn Rovers.

The France international voiced his frustration at his lack of regular football on the eve of the Premier League match last month against Chelsea, whom he left for Arsenal on August 31st. He said he was determined to leave the club, alleging that promises made to him had been broken.

"I signed for Arsenal because I was led to believe I was going to be playing," he said. "That hasn't been the case."

This drew an angry response from Wenger, who suggested that he should simply knuckle down. "Diarra belongs to a big club," he said. "He doesn't play at the moment, but, if continues to fight, he will play."

Newcastle United, Tottenham, Manchester City and Portsmouth have shown an interest in the 22-year-old, while Lyon hover more in hope. "He is a player that interests us," said Bernard Lacombe, a special adviser to the Lyon club president, Jean-Michel Aulas.

Wenger is focused on beating Tottenham - his teams have not lost to them in 20 matches - and he welcomes back Robin van Persie to the squad.

The Dutchman spent two months on the sidelines after injuring his knee in mid-October and, when he returned, suffered a muscular strain.

As far as his opponents are concerned, Wenger's attention will also be on a striker in the Tottenham team, one he has known about for some time.

"Dimitar Berbatov is top class," said Wenger, who revealed that he considered signing the Bulgarian when he played at Bayer Leverkusen. "I noticed him once when he played against Real Madrid. He was a young boy at the time, but we were never in need of him. He always has time on the pitch and when you play against him, he is always in the places you don't want him to be."

As well as welcoming back van Persie, Arsenal have winger Theo Walcott in the squad, having recovered from a shoulder problem which kept him out of the FA Cup win at Burnley.

Wenger is set to again field a young side. Centre-back Kolo Toure, winger Emmanuel Eboue and utility man Alex Song are all away on international duty at the African Nations Cup.

Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora is on international duty with Ivory Coast and will miss tonight's match.

Spurs will also be without Tom Huddlestone in midfield, who starts the first game of a three-match suspension.

Chris Gunter is cup-tied, Younes Kaboul (ankle) and Darren Bent (knee) are doubts, while Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle) are out.

Guardian Service