Koscielny back for Gunners against Partizan

Laurent Koscielny was declared fit to bolster Arsenal’s defence here Wednesday as the English side faced a crucial Champions League tie against Partizan Belgrade.

Koscielny suffered a concussion against Fulham on Saturday and had initially been expected to face several weeks on the sidelines.

The Gunners, chasing a victory to be sure of qualification for the knockout rounds, also handed a start and the captain’s armband to injury-prone Dutch striker Robin van Persie, who partners Marouane Chamakh in attack.

Elsewhere, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger sprang few surprises as he aims to secure his team’s passage from Group H after successive defeats against Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga derailed their progress.

Arsenal must beat Partizan, winless and pointless after five matches, to be certain of reaching the last 16.

The English giants currently trail Shakhtar by three points and are level on nine points with third placed Braga, albeit with a vastly superior goal difference.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Nasri, van Persie, Denilson, Song, Squillaci, Arshavin, Gibbs, Chamakh.

Partizan: Stojkovic, Petrovic, Cleo, Moreira, Jovanovic, Savic, Lazevski, Krstajic, Ilic, Babovic, Medo.