GUNNERS IN VELA SWINE FLU SCARE; VELA IN THE CLEAR AFTER VIRUS SCARE.

Byline: JOHN CROSS

ARSENAL'S Mexican striker Carlos Vela (left) was at the centre of a swine flu alert that threatened to wreck their Champions League preparations. He was ordered to stay away from the training ground on Monday amid fears pals from Mexico who visited him at the club's Hertfordshire complex last week could have contracted the virus, which has claimed 152 lives in Vela's homeland. The 20- year-old star needed special clearance yesterday to travel with the rest of the squad for Arsenal's semi-final at Manchester United and will be on the bench tonight.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "It looks to be a massive problem so we asked him to stay at home on Monday. He wasn't allowed at the training ground. But he was free to attend training today. It was down to him having a visit from Mexican friends who came to see him last week and who came to our training ground. It's a major problem for Mexico."

Arsenal's medical team then took advice from Government experts in infectious diseases. The club's doctors carried out tests on Vela yesterday morning and he was given the all-clear.