Arsene Wenger’s men only need to avoid a defeat in Italy in order to progress to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

The Gunners sit top of Group F with 12 points, with the best goal difference of all 4 sides. Napoli need a 3-0 win if they are to have any hope of leapfrogging Borussia Dortmund into 2nd place, however the Germans look certain to keep hold of the final qualifying spot as they play bottom-placed Marseille.

The only scenario which would see Arsenal crash out of the competition would be for Dortmund to win as expected against the Frenchmen and for Rafa Benitez’s Napoli to turn us over by more than 3 goals.

Napoli are in impressive form in Serie ‘A’, 4 points ahead of Inter Milan in 3rd place in the table. They have scored 31 goals in their 15 domestic games this season, one more than the Gunners have managed themselves.

The FA Cup was always likely to throw up a tasty fixture as we enter the traditional competition at its 3rd round stage – however nobody predicted that perhaps the biggest derby in the English game would come out of the hat.

The 53rd ball to be picked out by former England striker Teddy Sheringham was Arsenal, followed in 54th place by North London rivals Spurs to set up what will be the second North London Derby of the season on the 4th or 5th of January.

Having beaten Spurs at home back in September – and topping the Premiership table since – Arsenal will be in pole position to progress through to the next round. And being the first of the two names picked out by Sheringham, the Gunners will have the advantage of playing in front of a buzzing home crowd.

Arsene Wenger’s table-topping Gunners will be back to near-enough full strength having rested a number of key players in midweek against Hull.

The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners at the Emirates as the Tigers crumbled after goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Mesut Ozil. The Dane’s first goal since March 2011 laid the foundations for Arsenal to go 4 points clear at the top of the table – a lead which could be lengthened or shortened by Saturday’s results.

Sunday’s opponents are the League’s draw-masters Everton. With 6 draws from 14 and just 1 loss all season – respectably 3-1 to Man City – the Toffees seem to be the experts at not losing football matches.

Sitting comfortably in 5th, Martinez’s side have conceded just 13 goals this season – a feat equalled only by Southampton and beaten only by a certain side from the Emirates.

It comes as no surprise that today Alex Song has been linked with a transfer away from the Nou Camp, with Arsenal and Manchester United monitoring the players’ situation.

The Cameroonian has struggled to maintain a spot in the first team since his £15 million move to Barcelona due to the vast amount of talent available in the midfield.

I knew this would happen. You knew this would happen. Alex Song was destined to become the ‘new Hleb.’ Was Song ignorant enough to not think it would happen?

In a The Times exclusive today, Arsene Wenger has been offered a staggering £24 million contract to extend his managerial career at Arsenal for another 3 years.

At £8 million per year, Wenger will become the second highest paid manager in the Premier League, after Jose Mourinho, and if he decides to sign, will take his service at the club to an incredible 21 years.

There is no doubt that Wenger is a club legend. He not only revolutionised the club, he changed the Premier League for the better. He may have his critics, but there is no doubting Wenger’s importance to English football.

However, without a major trophy since 2005, Arsenal has struggled to keep up with Manchester United, Chelsea, and more recently, Manchester City. Luckily, as a consolation, Arsenal has continued their impressive record for qualifying for the Champions League to the dismay of Tottenham.