Last week Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Kevin Keegan to go to church and pray that Tony Adams would be fit for Euro 2000. The England coach must have got down on his knees straight away because Adams has recovered from a groin injury to play for Arsenal against Werder Bremen tonight.

Adams' return is timely, not only because Arsenal have gone eight games without a clean sheet but also because his drive could come in handy. Wenger made it clear the old excitement has been drained from European nights.

"We are playing European games almost every week and it is just not such an event now," the Arsenal manager said. "I think everybody feels that. There is no time to prepare. We just go from one match to another."

This will be Arsenal's 11th European tie of the season, two more than they played to win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. David Seaman, who was part of that triumphant team, has recovered from a neck injury to play in goal.

Bremen, fifth in the Bundesliga, possess a dangerous Brazilian forward Ailton and should not be written off whatever happens tonight. They overturned a 1-0 deficit against Parma in the last round and went through against Lyon despite losing the first leg 3-0 in France.

Meanwhile, Wenger has defended former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka who has been suspended without pay for 45 days by Real Madrid. "He never once refused to practise with us and was no problem to deal with day to day, certainly he was less of a problem than some other players with bigger reputations."

Asked if he was leaving the door ajar for Anelka to return, Wenger said: "That's not a question at the moment. In fact it is impossible because we could not afford his salary or the fee Real would want."