The Arsenal midfield have enough depth to compensate for the missing Fabregas. It looks as if either Samir Nasri or Tomas Rosicky will be playing the advanced midfield position

The Premier League gets put on hold for the time being whilst the Champions League comes to the fore. Portuguese champions FC Porto come to the Emirates in the hope to avoid defeat which would see them progress to the last eight.

Arsene and Arsenal will have very different ideas. Porto traditionally are not very good travellers whilst Arsenal haven’t overturned a first-leg deficit in European competition since the UEFA Cup tie against Hajduk Split during the 1977-78. Something will certainly have to give.

It is quite an amazing statistic but the team will feel very confident about scrapping that stat to the history books.

The task will have been made somewhat more difficult without inspirational skipper Cesc Fabregas who has had a return from the hamstring niggle and after tests, Arsene has decided not to risk damaging it further and has ruled the play maker out of the clash.

The Arsenal midfield have enough depth to compensate for the missing Fabregas. It looks as if either Samir Nasri or Tomas Rosicky will be playing the advanced midfield position, whichever player is chosen will have some massive boots to fill. Against Burnley both Nasri and Rosicky rotated effortlessly but I think Wenger will select Andrey Arshavin to play on the left which could mean a possible back seat for Rosicky.

Sol Campbell has been rested for this game and is likely to come in for Mikel Silvestre which in turn allows Thomas Vermaelen to move across to left center back.

One to watch: Gael Clichy

Clichy has had an up and down season due to injuries but he is now back and is finding his best form again. He will have a tough time up against Diego Valeri, especially if Tomas Rosicky is not included from the start. Arshavin does not always do the required job in the opposite direction so the likes of Song and Diaby will have to cover across and help out their team mate.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

As I have already mentioned, the boss probably has a decision to make between Tomas Rosicky or Andrey Arshavin. Samir Nasri was fantastic over the weekend and has pretty much sealed his place in the team. Bendtner and Walcott are likely to continue in the attacking positions.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Any victory will do for Arsenal and I am pretty sure we will get one even without Cesc Fabregas. I hope Bendtner can get a goal that will lift his finishing confidence.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS.