Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident Park Chu-young will be available for the Barclays Premier League clash against Swansea as the South Korea captain awaits his visa in Paris.
The 26-year-old signed from Monaco ahead of the transfer deadline and was away on international duty, scoring a hat-trick against Lebanon.
Wenger confirmed the relevant paperwork had not yet been completed, but remained optimistic it would be in time for the striker to feature.
Speaking to a pre-match news conference, the Arsenal manager said: “We have an uncertainty still with the visa of Park.
“He is in Paris at the moment, but we hope it will be sorted out tonight. He has been away playing against Lebanon and Kuwait. From Kuwait he has flown directly to Paris and should come back tonight (Friday).”
Arsenal’s other deadline signings defenders Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos as well as midfield pair Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta are all expected to be involved as the Gunners aim to kick-start their domestic campaign in the wake of an 8-2 mauling at Manchester United.