Champions League preview: Arsenal v Partizan Belgrade

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will play Robin van Persie in his first Champions League match this term against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.

Van Persie has been eased back into action following his ankle problem and has featured in only seven matches this season – with the forward yet to appear on the European stage this campaign.

Ahead of Arsenal’s crucial clash with Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates – with qualification for the knockout stages still not secured – Wenger says Van Persie is ready to start.

Arsenal need to equal Braga’s result against Shakhtar Donetsk in the other game to ensure progression and Wenger said: “He (van Persie) is getting better and better and ready to start.”

“He was ready to start two weeks ago if you ask him – he is a player who has been out for a long time and wants games. I haven’t decided the starting line-up but it is a possibility.”

“I will not be aware of the other game. What is important is not to focus on the teams we might play, we first have to be very pragmatic and qualify first. We will see then who we get.”

“If you want to win it, you have to play against these big teams. First of all, it is not a guarantee that we play Barcelona or Bayern in the next round – there are some other teams we can play and whatever happens, happens.”

Defender Johan Djourou will miss out for Arsenal, but Laurent Koscielny is fit to play and will start despite suffering a concussion against Fulham on Saturday.