Adams targets Juve game

The veteran defender has been missing since picking up a foot injury in last month's FA Cup tie with Gillingham.

The former England star has been troubled with a series of niggling injuries all season and has only made five appearances all season.

It was feared that Adams' season could be over after his latest injury, but he is ready to give Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a major boost by declaring his fitness.

The Frenchman would love to have his skipper available for the trip to Turin, as The Gunners need to match the result of Bayer Leverkusen, who travel to Deportivo La Coruna, to progress through to the quarter finals.

Adams is hopeful that his injury problems are behind him and that he can play a part in Arsenal's chase for honours at this crucial stage of the season.

"I am making good progress and I badly want to be able to be playing again," Adams told the London Evening Standard.

"If all goes well for the remainder of the week then I hope to be back soon. As for the game at Aston Villa on Sunday-I honestly don't know. The training has gone well and I haven't ruled it out.

"However, I have no targets because I have had a few disappointments.

"In the last few months, just when I thought I was there, it's been one thing after another.

"I am determined, though. I haven't thrown in the towel and I still feel I can contribute.

"I'm still ambitious to win things with Arsenal and at the moment everything is okay.

"But I will go by what the manager says. In the past I've thought I was fine, but he has said I wasn't quite ready - and he's been proved right."

Wenger is also confident that Adams can make a return to the side as he has reported no reaction to returning to training.

"Tony was training this week and it was encouraging," said Wenger. "He looks quite good and seems very sharp and there is no pain now in his foot.

Another boost for Wenger is the imminent return of Ashley Cole from injury.

The England defender has returned to light training and expects to be back in a week.

"I'll be coming back at a crucial stage and I'll be fully refreshed," said Cole. "I was tired just before the injury, so in a way it was a blessing in disguise.

"There are only important games left now and the more players we get back, the better our chances will be.

"I'm not really thinking about England. My only aims are trying to get back to full fitness, play for Arsenal and go for the championship."

Meanwhile, Arsenal are reported to be keeping tabs on Sparta Prague goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The 19-year-old shot-stopper has been in superb form for Prague this season and his performances have attracted the interest of a number of clubs.

The tall goalkeeper is set to win the number one jersey from Pavel Srnicek for the Czech Republic and he is tipped for a big future in the game.

Arsenal could be on the look-out for a new goalkeeper as David Seaman's career is coming to an end and summer signing Richard Wright, who was bought as Seaman's long-term replacement, has failed to convince at Highbury.