Arsenal and Chelsea can both secure a place in the knock out stage of the champions League tonight if they can prevail against Shakhtar Donetsk and Spartak Moscow respectively.
Arsenal will be without skipper Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin for tonight’s crucial away clash against Shakhtar in Donetsk. According to daily reports Fabregas will be replaced by either Emanouel Eboue, Craig Eastmond or Jack Wilshere who signed new long team with the club on Monday until 2015.
Theo Walcott is expected to be included in tonights starting line-up according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger especially during his recent good spell of form with six goals in seven games and also according to the Arsenal boss the 21 year old winger has the potential to become a goalscoring legend just as former gunner Thierry Henry.
Wenger said: “Theo is 21, give two more years and Theo can be a prolific goal scorer. I believe that Theo now is calmer in front of goal and has tremendous pace and finishing and is a big danger for the opponents defence”.
Arsenal previous visit to the Ukraine was not a pleasant one as they fell to defeat 3-2 but after last weeks mesmerising performance and a 5-1 thumping at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger’s side are set for victory and qualification for the knock out stages of the competition.
Arsenal possible line-up: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Kosielny, Clichy, Eboue, Wilshere, Nasri, Walcott, Chamakh, Rosicky.
Chelsea are also on the verge of champions league qualification as they face Russian side Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti will have the services of last years top goal scorer Didier Drogba and Michael Essien which suffered a serious knee injury.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team need all three points to book their place in the last 16 and issued a open to his players to be cautious of the amount of red cards his team receives.
Ancelotti said: “The champion’s league is decided on little details. And these are the little details – control the recovery of the players, avoid injury and avoid yellow or red cards – this is important because to do your best you’ve got to have your whole team ready at all times and that is what we shall do”.
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