Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes midfielder Mathieu Flamini could be fit for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea with Cesc Fabregas' absence likely to continue.

Flamini, Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby could all be involved in the crucial fixture but midfield talisman Fabregas and Belarus international Alexander Hleb are still not fully recovered.

"The one who has a realistic chance is Flamini," Wenger said.

"One who could be in the squad is Van Persie. Diaby could be in the squad as well. We don't know about Cesc and Hleb."

Just three points separate the country's top three sides after Middlesbrough blew the race wide open on Sunday with a shock 2-1 win over Arsenal.

It was the Gunners' first domestic defeat of the season and capped a north-east double-whammy for Wenger and his team, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday night.

Had Arsenal won both games, they would boast a six-point lead.

Instead, they are one more bad result away from surrendering top spot to champions Manchester United.

Despite seeing the league's final unbeaten record sunk at the Riverside on Sunday, Wenger was composure personified when asked about its implications for the championship race.

"What can I say? It will be tight," he smiled.

Sporting Life / Eurosport