Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to forget about picking centre back Martin Keown for the Swede's first international in charge against Spain a week on Wednesday.

The 35-times capped defender, who skippered England in the last World Cup qualifier against Finland in Helsinki in October, will be out of action for at least two more weeks with a knee ligament injury.

And although that should help make up Eriksson's mind to give an opportunity to at least one of his young hopefuls - Leeds United's Rio Ferdinand and Manchester United's Wes Brown - against Spain, it leaves Arsenal with a massive defensive headache for tomorrow's FA Cup fifth-round crunch with Chelsea at Highbury.

With skipper Tony Adams suspended for five yellow cards this season, Arsenal boss Wenger was desperately hoping that Keown, who has already missed the last five games, would recover in time for the cup-tie.

But Wenger said: ''He's still at least two weeks away and for the next England game I think they can rule him out.

''For us it means that without Tony we have to find a new balance and try to defend more solidly as a unit against Chelsea. It is obvious we will miss him but, for me, at least it is a relief that he's out through just a suspension this time and not an injury.''

Adams, 34, announced his retirement from international football last month to concentrate on extending his Arsenal career, and has since silenced any doubters by producing form as inspiring as at any time in his career.

His dominating presence at the heart of Arsenal's defence in the Champions League win in Lyon on Tuesday night ensured a sixth consecutive clean sheet for the Gunners.

The last goal they conceded was by Chelsea's John Terry in a 1-1 Premiership draw at Highbury on January 13, when Adams was out with flu.

Tomorrow, Wenger will have to rely on an untried new central defence partnership of midfielder Gilles Grimandi, who filled in impressively for Keown in Lyon, and Igors Stepanovs, the 24-year-old Latvian whom the manager admits has been nursed through his English soccer baptism by Adams.

''It is a big challenge for Stepanovs,'' admitted Wenger, ''but he has to go in without Tony's help at some time and I believe he has gained more experience now to help him cope."