MONACO - THE competition for places in Arsenal's starting team is so intense that young Gunners may be pushing their fragile bodies too hard and picking up injuries, according to former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

Arsenal's season is reaching its pinnacle, with an FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea on Saturday, followed by a trip to Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Tuesday and a Champions League semifinal against Manchester United later this month.

COBHAM (England) - CHELSEA manager Guus Hiddink backed shaky goalkeeper Petr Cech to return to form in Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal and dismissed speculation that the club planned to buy Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes.

Chelsea has conceded seven goals in its last two games and Cech's blunders have contributed to the team's struggle to beat Bolton 4-3 in the league and draw 4-4 with Liverpool in the Champions League.

DURHAM (England) - POLICE said Friday that British Olympic boxer Bradley Saunders will not face charges over the discovery of a quantity of cocaine in his garden.

A light-welterweight who lost in the second round at the Beijing Games after having been tipped to win a gold medal, Saunders was arrested along with his girlfriend in November.