After effectively polishing the tie off in Turkey last week, Arsenal go into the home leg with a significant advantage.

Wenger has spoken before of the importance of securing Champions League football in terms of building the squad and getting new players. It both gives us the financial capacity to do so, but also means the club can attract a higher calibre of player.

For this reason, he indicated that the club will not underestimate the Turks by fielding a weaker team.

However unlikely it is that a weaker squad could manage to squander the 3-0 lead, with away goals in our favour, it is not one that is worth risking.

Injuries

In terms of injuries, the best news is that Koscielny is cleared to play after suffering a “very deep” cut to his head after being kicked there by Pierre Webo in the first leg. Judging from the comments at the time it looked as though it could have been very nasty indeed.

Other long term absences, such as Arteta, Oxlade Chamberlain, Diaby, Vermaelen are all still out.

Ryo Miyaichi is the only player that has the potential to return, with the manager saying that the Japanese youngster will be a part of the first team squad this season. It is unclear as to whether he will be risked in the squad for this game, however.

Nacho Monreal has come on from the bench in each of the last 2 matches and is thought to be almost fully recovered from the back injury that kept him out of the Vila game.

The Team

Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs both played on Saturday’s 3-1 win over Fulham, which combined with Koscielny’s likely return will probably result in Carl Jenkinson being dropped for the Fenerbahce game and Sagna being put back in his more natural right back position.  Szczesny is likely to remain between the sticks.

As far as midfield goes, Jack Wilshere was rested for the Fulham game, but this was due to statistical reasons of dipping performance after playing the full 90 minutes for the first Fenerbahce game, as well as the Villa game and a half for England. The manager has said that Jack will play.

A much improved Aaron Ramsey is possibly overdue a rest, after arguably being Arsenal’s best player this season.

The Fulham game also saw Giroud and Podolski both get on the scoresheet, taking the duo’s tally up to 38 goals in just over a season. Giroud has looked incredibly sharp in pre-season and scored in the last 3 Arsenal games. They are likely to be joined by Theo Walcott.

Potential Line-Up

Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky; Walcott, Giroud, Podolski

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