The Arsenal Column

Uefa Champions League, third qualifying round, second leg:
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Wednesday, 27 August Kick-off: 20:05 BST

Cesc Fabregas is included in squad to play FC Twente and may start for the first time this season as Arsenal look to secure their place in the Champions League.

Arsenal have no more new players back from injury and Arsene Wenger is to pick from the same squad as the one defeated by Fulham this weekend. Song may play in midfield, while Toure and Adebayor may drop to the bench.

The Season Starts Now

Judging by the first match Wenger may decide to play Fabregas for 45 minutes, which is likely to be in the second half.

“It was a real cup game and they made it very physical,”said Wenger. “They played a lot on the fringe but to sustain that for 90 minutes is very difficult for any team in the world. I felt we could use that to our advantage in the second half. But it was a very difficult game and all respect to Twente. They played very well.”

Arsenal will be more balanced shouled they chose to play a recognised midfielder in Song or Fabregas instead of Eboue in the centre and therefore will look to have more of the ball and more control of the game.

FC Twente will have to be on the offensive today and as a result may be more open however young striker Marko Arnautovic is out so Huysegems may get a chance or they may revert to a 4-3-3 formation . Much will be relied on Denneboom who looked dangerous in the first leg and the creative prowess of Theo Janssen. Ex-Middlesbrough defender Luke Wilkshire, 26, who started the first leg, has since been sold to Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow so will not be available.

Arsenal (Predicted line-up 4-4-2):

Almunia

Sagna – Gallas (c) – Djourou – Clichy

Walcott – Denilson – Fabregas – Nasri

Van Persie – Bendtner

Subs from: Fabianski, Eboue, Toure, Fabregas, Adebayor, Ramsey, Vela,

FC Twente (Predicted line-up): Boschker- Tiote, Douglas, Wielaert, Braafheid- Tiote, Janssen, Brama, Elia- Denneboom, Huysegems

Subs: Douglas Franco, Jeroen Heubach, Cees Paauwe, Ramon Zomer, Niels Wellenberg, Patrick Gerritsen, Tjaronn Chery

Key Man: Cesc Fabregas- Wheter playing first half or second, Fabregas can cut open any defence and with Twente chasing a win, that happening is very probable.

Dangerman: Theo Janssen- Will have to be at his best at a large Emirates pitch, creating chances that Twente have to score.

Prediction: 2-0

At the moment predicting an Arsenal scoreline is unpredictable(!) but Arsenal should be more balanced and will look to pick off the gaps of a desperate Twente team looking for a result.