Gooner Talk

Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas returns to the starting line-up for tonight’s Champions League Group H tie with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.

Fabregas has not played since Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland last month, but trained alongside his team-mates at London Colney yesterday.

Cesc’s fellow midfield star Tomas Rosicky also starts after being on the subtitutes bench for the past few games, while Lukasz Fabianski continues in goal.

Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner and Kieran Gibbs return to the bench from their respective injuries.

Starting XI & Subs: 

Fabianski
Eboue – Djourou – Squillaci – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Wilshere
Nasri – Chamakh – Rosicky

Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby, Arshavin, Walcott, Bendtner.

Arsene Wenger has opted to start with Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby in midfield against Chelsea today, while summer signing Sebastien Squillaci is captain for the Gunners.

Poland international Lukasz Fabianski keeps his place in the starting XI after impressing at Partizan, but Denilson, Rosicky and Djourou drop to the bench.

Arsenal will want to produce evidence that they can be serious challengers to Chelsea after being brushed aside twice by Carlo Ancelotti’s side last season.

Fabianski
Sagna – Squillaci – Koscielny – Clichy
Wilshere – Song – Diaby
Nasri – Chamakh – Arshavin

Subs: Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Denilson, Rosicky, Emmanuel-Thomas, Vela.

Fabianski
Eboue – Djourou – Koscielny – Gibbs
Wilshere – Denilson – Rosicky
Lansbury – Vela – Nasri

Subs: Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Eastmond, Arshavin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Chamakh.

Arsene Wenger has handed a start in midfield to 19-year-old Jack Wilshere, as the youngster gets given a chance to show what he’s all about.

The other major team news is that goalkeeper Manuel Almunia starts and captains the side.

There is no place in the starting XI for either Robin van Persie or Cesc Fabregas, with the latter being ruled out altogether due to a chest infection.

Almunia
Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Clichy
Wilshere – Diaby – Nasri
Eboue – Chamakh – Arshavin

Subs: Fabianski, Gibbs, Song, Walcott, Rosicky, Walcott, Vela, van Persie.

Arsene Wenger has opted for Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong in midfield for the Gunners final pre-season friendly against Legia Warsaw.

The duo have impressed throughout pre-season, most notably in the Emirates Cup where particularly Wilshere drew plaudits from many watching Arsenal supporters.

On the goalkeeping front, Lukasz Fabianski is handed a start against his former club while Marouane Chamakh is supported by Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky up top.

Fabianski
Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Clichy
Wilshere – Frimpong – Nasri
Walcott – Chamakh – Rosicky

Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Nordtveit, Eboue, Lansbury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Vela.