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SNEIJDER INJURY CONCERNS SCHUSTER

Sneijder - injury worry.

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has confirmed Wesley Sneijder will be out for "a while" after the Holland playmaker was carried off in the Emirates Cup defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Sneijder left the field on a stretcher after an hour following a heavy challenge by Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby as the Primera Liga champions went down 1-0 - a result which handed the trophy to Hamburg, who beat Juventus 3-0 earlier in the day.

However, all that was overshadowed by Sneijder's injury.

"Undoubtedly he is not good," said Schuster. "We're all very worried about him.

"The truth is that this moment for him is very difficult. He is in a lot of pain.

"We still have to do more tests but it doesn't look good.

"I think it's better to wait and hear what the doctor has to say. That will be more complete, and clearer. But I can say that it is not good, he will be out for a while.

"It could be a cruciate ligament injury. We'll have to wait and see what the professionals say."

Sneijder is almost certain to miss the start of the new Spanish season.

"We're going to have to be without him for a bit," added Schuster.

"We now have go back home and recover our spirits from all this.

"But it is also something that happens in football. All great footballers have had these things and I'm sure he'll be back to normal soon."

While the two-day tournament is a friendly competition, the tackles which were flying in suggested the players were taking it as serious as any league match.

However, Schuster refused to attach any blame to Arsenal or Diaby.

"It's an English team and they play with a lot of intensity," he continued. "These things can happen. It's the way they play here and you have to accept that.

"The Emirates Cup is a tournament with very prestigious teams and they all want to give a good display and win.

"For that reason we had to be careful not to take risks and that's why the (Spain) internationals didn't play. It's a pity because it's a great tournament."

Sneijder's compatriot Arjen Robben also expressed his sympathy for his Madrid and Holland team-mate.

"We have to wait and see what's wrong," he said. "It looks very bad, very disappointing.

"He's a great player and a great person. We have to wait and see. Tomorrow he'll have a scan and we'll have to hope for the best."

Madrid have long been linked with Hamburg star Rafael van der Vaart and could increase their efforts to sign the midfielder in the wake of Sneijder's injury.

However, Robben refused to comment on whether he would be a fitting substitute.

"I don't want to speak about this," he said. "We only have to speak about Wesley.

"It's very disappointing for him, very sad. It's very sad news and we cannot speak about other players now."

Arsene Wenger is convinced Emmanuel Adebayor can silence any doubters of his commitment to Arsenal by doing what he does best in front of goal.

The Togo striker - who was Arsenal's top scorer with 30 goal last season - had been the subject of fevered transfer speculation during the summer.

However, that was all dismissed as pure conjecture when, on Friday, it was announced Adebayor would sign a new contract extension with the Gunners.

Before Saturday's opening game of the Emirates Cup against Juventus, some sections of the home crowd had let their frustrations be known, which Wenger later described as "disappointed love".

However, the 6ft 3ins frontman was all smiles again on Sunday afternoon as he converted what proved to be a winning penalty - and kissed the badge in celebration with the fans behind the goal.

Adebayor insists he remains as committed as ever to the Arsenal cause, yet accepts the rumours have not helped his relationship with the fans.

That will, according to Wenger, soon all be water under the bridge once the Togo international is back on the goal trail when the action starts for real.

"I feel Adebayor felt people questioned his commitment a little bit and the best answer always is to give on the pitch," he said.

"You play well and show you are ready to fight for your shirt and your team. He does that. He is a man with character.

"You know how it is. If you score goals people forget quickly their frustration. You have to show it with performances in this job."

Wenger added: "Do I like people kissing their badge? Why not? If it is sincere and real, then yes."

The Arsenal manager felt the game, in which he had named a near-full strength starting XI, was a decent enough work-out in the build-up to the new campaign, which starts in earnest against FC Twente in a Champions League qualifier on August 12/13.

"It was a good game with a good intensity for a pre-season game," he said.

"We were not in trouble defensively and created many chances so it was very positive.

"Our shape was much better than yesterday and our movements were better so overall I am pleased. We got what we wanted from the games.

"I learned a lot about my team in the last two days."

Wenger is looking to add at least one experienced body before the transfer window closes.

The Arsenal manager, however, insists he is "not on Gareth Barry's case", and also would not be drawn on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso.

He said: "It is better I don't speak about names. I leave that to your imagination and creation.

"If we sign a player we will come out and tell you but we are not close at the moment."

Wenger is confident some of his youngsters who were on show this weekend can make the grade in the first team soon enough, such as 16-year-old Jack Wilshere.

The Arsenal boss said: "We cannot put any limitation on his participation in the team.

"He is only 16 but he is not fazed by the big games.

"The quality is there, I don't look too much at his age, just what he is doing on the pitch and at the moment the quality is good."

As for England Under-21 star Theo Walcott, Wenger feels the coming year could prove an important campaign for the former Southampton trainee.

"Theo is ahead of what he was doing at this period last season and he is still 19," said Wenger.

"I hope Theo will be a big part of the squad this season.

"I have confidence in him of course, but it is down to performances.

"His first touch is much better and he moves the ball quicker. His penetration and final ball is better.

"There is goalscoring potential in him and I hope he gets it out of him."