Arsenal v Twente preview

Fabregas poised to make first appearance of the season

Last updated: 27th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Arsenal v Twente preview

Fabregas: Fit for Gunners

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Arsenal will be looking to finish the job off against FC Twente to secure a spot in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Second-half goals from William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor clinched a 2-0 win in Holland a fortnight ago and Arsene Wenger's side are expected to complete the formalities of their progression.

Wenger will be looking for an improvement on the lacklustre performance put in during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Fulham and he is boosted by the return of Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish midfielder has yet to play for the Gunners this term after picking up a hamstring problem during pre-season.

No new problems

However, he is due to be involved at some stage against Twente, with Wenger to decide whether to start Fabregas or leave him on the bench.

With Emmanuel Eboue having partnered Denilson in central midfield against Fulham, Fabregas could well be included from the first whistle.

The Gunners are still without Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby, but no fresh injuries were reported from the weekend's defeat at Craven Cottage.

New signing Mikael Silvestre will not be making his Arsenal debut until after the international break as he recovers from a thigh problem.

McClaren returns

Twente coach Steve McClaren will be looking to cause a major upset in his first match back on English soil since that ill-fated evening at Wembley last November.

McClaren's hopes of overturning the first-leg deficit are hampered by the continued absence of last season's top scorer Blaise N'Kufo due to suspension.

The Dutch club's attacking options are also reduced by an injury to Marko Arnautovic, with the Austria Under 21 international out with a torn hamstring.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Luke Wilkshere is also missing as the Australian has completed a move to Dinamo Moscow.