When ? 03/11/2010
Where? Donbass Arena, Donetsk
Kickoff? 19.45
Channel? Sky Sports 2 (402)
Competition? UEFA Champions League
Prediction? 1-1
Match Preview
Arsenal can book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League when they travel to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports HD2. The Gunners have won all three of their Group H matches so far and another success in Ukraine would secure their passage to the next phase with two fixtures to spare.
Arsenal were comfortable 5-1 winners in their last meeting with Shakhtar a fortnight ago, but manager Arsene Wenger will be wary of complacency at Donbass Arena.
Wenger's men head into the fixture in fine form having won their previous five outings in all competitions.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk because of a hamstring injury. Alex Song, Andrei Arshavin and Denilson are also ruled out of the European tie.
Song has a calf problem, Denilson has a groin injury and Arshavin has an unspecified problem. That leaves the manager light in central midfield. Don’t be surprised if Craig Eastmond fills the breach in the holding role. The likes of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Henri Lansbury have also made the trip. So, while this may be the Champions League, there will be a Carling Cup element to the bench.
Robin van Persie (ankle), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Manuel Almunia (elbow), Abou Diaby (ankle) and Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) all remain sidelined.
Shakhtar Team News
Ukrainian Premier League champions Shakhtar sit second on six points in Group H while they head into this tie off the back of a league triumph.
Domestically, Shakhtar boast a five-point lead at the summit after defeating FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovs 1-0 on Saturday.
Jadson (foot) missed the weekend match and is unlikely to play against Arsenal while Henrik Mkhitaryan is absent as is Fernandinho.
Striker Eduardo, who scored his side's only goal at Arsenal, will be hopeful of starting versus the side he left in the summer.
sources: Sky BBC Arsenal
Predictions?
.....
The Arsenal Team
Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Walcott, Wilshere, Eastmond, Rosicky, Nasri, Bendtner
thanks to Mike for the team
Last edited: