The England defender was substitutes at half-time during Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by French club Lens after suffering a recurrence of his long-standing back problem.

Medical staff at Highbury have ruled out surgery in a bid to alleviate the problem and Adams could return to the fitness clinic in southern France where he was sent last year for treatment to his lower back.

He was at the clinic for a week last December but was not ready to return to the team until January and a similar, or even longer, lay-off this time could have a serious impact on Arsenal's chances of retaining their Premiership title.

Adams considered retiring last year and has expressed concern at the effects on his stomach of taking anti-inflammatory tablets over a prolonger period to ease the pain.

Kanu: An Arsenal target?

Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit all missed the game with Lens at Wembley and manager Arsene Wenger has come in for some criticism for failing to strengthen the squad.

But he remains defiant, saying: "We overcame huge adversity last year and we can do it again.

"I always said that winning the Premiership again was the main priority, but we wanted to do well in the Champions' League and it is disappointing to go out."

Wenger has been linked with £4m-rated Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, currently with Inter Milan. But he underwent heart surgery two years ago and Arsenal prefer to take him on loan for the rest of the season.