Arsenal will begin life without Cesc Fabregas when they face Udinese in Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg.


Fabregas was named in Arsene Wenger's squad for the Champions League but he is no longer a Gunner having completed his move to Barcelona on Monday.

Samir Nasri is another player expected to leave the Emirates before the end of the month but his absence from the squad has nothing to do with his uncertain future.

The Frenchman is suspended for the tie and is therefore unavailable, while Wenger will also have to plan without Robin Van Persie as he serves a ban.

Tomas Rosicky is included in the squad but he will have to come through a late fitness test, while Jack Wilshere is definitely out with an ankle injury.

Gervinho may have been sent off against Newcastle on Saturday but the striker is available and is likely to be named in the starting 11.

Udinese have only reached the group stage once and their record of victories on the road in Europe would suggest they could struggle at the Emirates.

They have gone four away games without a win since beating FC Spartak Moskva 2-1 in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage, but goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is confident his team can get a result against their Premier League opponents.

"I think it's always better to play the first leg away," he told larepunnlica.it.

"I'm not afraid of Arsenal, last year in the league we prepared well for games against the big sides and we did well, so you should always be optimistic. I know I am."

Arsenal squad: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Rosicky, Song, Ramsey, Arshavin, Gervinho, Chamakh, Fabianski, Walcott, Chamberlain, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Bendtner.

YOUR PREDOS!!!

From Mi : Ars 3 - 1 Udenise

B52,TV5,Gervinho

Still. . . .Gooners 1800

http://authspot.com/thoughts/how-to-make-her-fall-for-you-and-love-you/. http://trifter.com/europe/united-kingdom/how-to-dress-to-impress-for-men-and-women/

This is a very intresting game coming up, i don't have much confidence in the present state of this squad.

At the end of 90minutes, Arsenal might just find themselves taking the Europa route. Even though there is another leg next week, if they loose or even draw their home match today its bye bye.

asscend:

This is a very intresting game coming up, i don't have much confidence in the present state of this squad.

At the end of 90minutes, Arsenal might just find themselves taking the Europa route. Even though there is another leg next week, if they loose or even draw their home match today its bye bye.

So u mean if we do not qualify here,its Europa league? nope i fink its No European footie at all.

allboyz:

So u mean if we do not qualify here,its Europa league? nope i fink its No European footie at all.

Actually it's EUROPA but come on guys ! This is Arsenal FC we're talking about here, start preparing for the group stages. I only hope we don't get drawn with some whoop behind teams

edoyad:

Actually it's EUROPA but come on guys ! This is Arsenal FC we're talking about here, start preparing for the group stages. I only hope we don't get drawn with some whoop behind teams

Oh tnx. . . .

The Fans need o get behind the team tonite!!! and once we qualify im quite sure we would be seeded!! No?

@op :Correct your spelling of udinese.Thanks

chrisical:

@op :Correct your spelling of udinese.Thanks

Tnx

allboyz:

Oh tnx. . . .

The Fans need o get behind the team tonite!!! and once we qualify im quite sure we would be seeded!! No?

yes we would. Other seeds would include:
1. Man Who
2. Dirty Bra
3. Chestly
4. Madrid
5. Bayern(if they qualify. which i seriously doubt)
6. and two others, probably the milans

edoyad:

yes we would. Other seeds would include:
1. Man Who
2. Dirty Bra
3. Chestly
4. Madrid
5. Bayern(if they qualify. which i seriously doubt)
6. and two others, probably the milans

No sure if Madrid would be seeded oo. . . .Inter shud be seeded i guez

all i need a a 3 goal margin win with "hopefully"a cleen sheet!

Predos stil at : 3 - 1 to the RED n WHITE Army

Will Supersports broadcast it?

My predo: Arsenal 1 Udinese 2

A-40s boy is looking very good , 1 nil to the Arsenal. Feoooo

update pls

1 - 0 to Arsenal.

theo and gervinho just de ginger mehn

o boy scezny just save our blushes there

.

never ever seen an italian side with so much pace.

udinese are dangerous!

di natale & isla are turning vermakos like barbecue.

I can imagine if sanchez, Inler were still in Udinese and they had a fit floro flores, if we are unable to score 2 or 3 unreplied goals, it would be very difficult at the Stadio Friuli.

^ turning verm how ? We're definitely not watching the same game. Verm has kept that defense in intact from the whistle. The only clear cut chance they got was that give away by Song, other than that no major threat to the gunner defense. Gibbs is the weakest Link in the back four always being every where else but where he's supposed to be.

Gervinho makes good runs through the sides but ends up with dismal pull outs, he needs improvement in that area. The goal came as a result of a good feed from Ramsey, so i expect to copy from that.

IMO i feel Vermalen has had a great first half, he's been steady and has made good and timely tackles.

djorou just came in for Gibbs, seems the guy picked up a knock in the 1st half. Wenger must be kidding if he's not planning on replacing Clichy, Gibbs can't go a week without injury.

Chamakh is a waste of the DNA believe me, as the last man upfront, who is he back heeling the ball to FFS ?

lol djorou after ten mins on the pitch has also been substituted, things never change

Boiz, score one more naa, this is precarious ground.

Udinese are physically fit, more than Arsenal, the attack is just tooo blunt.

Now Ramsey just like Gevinho is trying to do too much.

Vermalen is always there at the right time, by now the players should know that Udinese take only short corner kicks, do they need a coach to tell them that?

walcott

Walcott am supposed to believe that is a shot on goal?

Age has certainly caught up with Rosicky