ASERNAL V/S NAPOLI
Arsenal have no new injury worries for their match at Napoli, where a draw would secure Champions League qualification and top spot in Group F.
The Gunners, who
beat Napoli 2-0
in October, will again be without Bacary Sagna although the full-back is close to recovering from a hamstring problem.
Napoli will evaluate the fitness of goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who missed Saturday's 3-3 draw against Udinese with a muscle injury.
Midfielder Valon Behrami is doubtful.
Who can qualify in Group F?
- Arsenal will go through - as group winners - if they avoid a three-goal defeat against Napoli
- Dortmund are through if they win in Marseille. A draw will be enough if Napoli do not beat Arsenal.
- Napoli can qualify with a win over Arsenal if Dortmund do not beat Marseille. Alternatively, Napoli will advance if they beat Arsenal by a three-goal margin even if Dortmund beat Marseille
- Should all three teams finish level on 12 points, the two qualifiers will be decided by the precise scorelines in the games between the three
The Italian side will be without Slovakia playmaker Marek Hamsik, who has a foot problem.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists his
side will play for victory and feels they may still be knocked out if
they are below par, as he looks forward to another meeting with Napoli's
former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
"I see it as another game we want to win, and that is the only way we can approach the game," he said.
"Benitez has a very big experience, is a very intelligent manager, so I know he will prepare his team well. The only way we can counter that is to be at our best and put in a good performance as an average performance will not be good enough."
"For me the most important thing is to qualify. If we can finish top, it is even better."
Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, believes the Gunners have the best man to lead them to their first Premier League crown since 2004.
"In modern football, everyone knows the quality of their rivals," Benitez said. "Arsenal are a very strong side.
"This could be the year they win the Premier League. For me, Wenger is the best coach in the Premier League and knows what his team must do.
"Arsenal will try to control possession and hit us with counter attacks. We have to do our thing, focus on ourselves and not on them."
A draw is only enough for Napoli if Borussia Dortmund, who have a superior head-to-head record, lose at Marseille. If Benitez's side lose, then they will have to settle for third, which will take them into the Europa League.
Arsenal squad: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud, Fabianski, Vermaelen, Bendtner, Monreal, Cazorla, Rosicky, Arteta.
source:bbcsports
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