Dennis Bergkamp will know by the end of this week whether he will be fit to play in the FA final and help Arsenal challenge for the second leg of the double. The Dutch striker missed the Gunners' title-clinching 4-0 demolition of Everton at Highbury on Sunday with the hamstring injury he picked up against Derby last Wednesday. He now faces an anxious wait as Arsenal prepare for the Wembley showpiece against Newcastle on 16 May. "The way I feel now I cannot be confident of making it," Bergkamp said. "It is getting better every day and that gives me encouragement but with a hamstring you know you have to be 100 per cent recovered. And I won't take the chance of letting the team down by playing if I'm not certain about it. We will know later this week if I am going to be ready." But the 'double' Footballer of the Year has refuted suggestions that he's under pressure from the Dutch FA to miss the final and safeguard his place in Holland's team for the World Cup finals. He said: "They contacted me but only to ask how I was and to wish me luck. That's all. The coach Guus Hiddink might even feel better about me for the World Cup if I showed I was able to get through a big game like that so soon after being injured - and play well." Meanwhile, French midfielder Emmanuel Petit has been cleared for Wembley after fears he had broken a leg after a disgraceful challenge by Everton's Don Hutchison on Sunday. Petit, who has also been suffering with a groin injury, is likely to miss Arsenal's remaining two League games against Liverpool and Aston Villa but admits: "I'm very relieved to find I can still play in the final. I feared the worst. I really thought he had broken my leg. I was amazed that the referee, who had booked him earlier, did nothing about it." Fellow Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour has admitted he does not expect to be action for England in the World Cup in France this summer despite being one of the main catalysts in Arsenal's Premiership triumph. Parlour said: "Regardless of all that has happened this season, to be honest I don't think I will be going to the World Cup finals. I think Mr Hoddle has already made his mind up about who to take and I'll be watching it on the TV."

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BE CHAMPION? 20 Months From 'Arsene Who?' To Glory   OF THE managers who have won the title since Arsenal's double year, Arsene Wenger has been one of the quickest to land his first title. Only Kenny Dalglish and Joe Fagan at Liverpool have won the English championship quicker than Wenger after being appointed. Of course, both Dalglish and Fagan inherited Liverpool sides already at their peak, though Arsenal were flying high at the time of Wenger's appointment. At the other end of the scale it took Alex Ferguson six-and-a-half years at Manchester United, and Ron Saunders and Don Revie both took over seven years to take their sides from Division Two to glory. The Frenchman took over the Highbury hot seat only 20 months ago, when Bruce Rioch was sacked on the eve of a new season in spite of leading Arsenal to fifth in the Premiership the previous May. By the time Wenger took over, caretaker managers had brought them up to third, so though impressive in terms of time he did not have that far to bring them. Perhaps the most impressive turnaround is that by Howard Wilkinson, taking Leeds from the Division Two relegation zone to safety in 1988-89, promotion in 1990, fourth in 1991 and the championship in 1992. Though he did spoil it a bit by finishing 17th in May 1993… THE TITLE-WINNING MANAGERS Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool): One Year Appointed May '85, after club finished second in Division One; championship May '86 Joe Fagan (Liverpool): One Year Appointed: May '83, after club finished first in Division One; championship May '84 Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): One Year, Eight Months Appointed September '96, with club third in the Premiership; championship May '98 Bob Paisley (Liverpool): One Year, Eleven Months Appointed June '74, after club finished second in Division One; championship May '76 Dave Mackay (Derby): One Year, Eleven Months Appointed: June '73, after club finished seventh in Division One; championship May '75 Brian Clough (Nottm Forest): Three Years, Four Months Appointed: Jan '75, with club 13th in Division Two; championship May '78 Bill Shankly (Liverpool): Three Years, Five Months Appointed: December '60, with club tenth in Division Two; championship May '64 Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn): Three Years, Seven Months Appointed: October '91, with club seventh in (old) Division Two; championship May '95 Howard Wilkinson (Leeds): Three Years, Seven Months Appointed: October '88, with club 21st in Division Two; championship May '92 Howard Kendall (Everton): Four Years Appointed: May '81, after club finished 15th in Division One; championship May '85 Brian Clough (Derby): Five Years Appointed: May '67, after club finished 17th in Division Two; championship May '72 Alex Ferguson (Man Utd): Six Years, Six Months Appointed: November '86, with club 18th in Division One; championship May '93 Ron Saunders (Aston Villa): Seven Years Appointed: May '74, after club finished 14th in Division Two; championship May '81 Don Revie (Leeds): Seven Years, Nine Months Appointed: Aug '61, after club finished 14th in Division Two; championship May '69

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