Arsenal (4/6 favourites in the match betting) boss Arsene Wenger believes Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk (4/1 to win, 14/5 the draw) will decide which side will top the group.
Both sides have won their opening two fixtures in Group H (Arsenal 1/4 to win the group, Shakhtar Donetsk 5/2) but the Gunners currently sit at the top of the standings as they have a superior goal difference.
However, Shakhtar have taken their six points without conceding a goal and have also won 15 of their 17 games domestically to give the players confidence going into the match.
Wenger is fully aware of the threat posed by the Ukrainians and insists that only a ‘great’ performance will earn his side the key win.
“In this group until now you had 12 points at stake – six went to Shakhtar, six went to Arsenal. That means what is at stake is the qualifying and also the top of the group, which is why it is a very important game,” he said.
“It is a key game because it gives us an opportunity to basically think we have qualified.
“Shakhtar are on a good winning run, they are dominating their league, they have just won 3-0 at Braga.
“We are on our toes. We know that only a great performance will win us the game.”
Laurent Koscielny, Robin van Persie, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen and Aaron Ramsey are all absent for the Gunners but captain Cesc Fabregas has recovered from his hamstring problem and may make his return to the line-up.
Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott have also recovered from their respective groin and ankle problems, while Manuel Almunia and Kieran Gibbs are close to full fitness.
Meanwhile, Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu insists that his side will be able to cause plenty of problems at the Emirates and will not just be making up the numbers.
“We have two games, one here and another in two weeks. We know they’re very powerful at home but can have difficulties away,” Lucescu said.
“Shakhtar are also a very good team and we are here to get a result.
“They will control the game for sure, it’s normal because they’re at home and they have many creative players. We have to be organised and cause them difficulties on the counter-attack.
“It’s difficult to say we’re here to play an attacking game because it depends on Arsenal, what with them being at home, but we can create big problems for them.”
Shakhtar will definitely be without Brazilian playmaker Fernandinho, who is out long-term after suffering a broken leg.
However, Ukraine defenders Dmytro Chygrynskiy (hamstring) and Yaroslav Rakytskiy (knee) returned for Friday’s 2-0 win at Metalurh Donetsk, while attacking midfielder Douglas Costa has also been included in the squad.
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England goalkeeper David James says his side will be treating their last-16 tie against Germany just like any other game (England 6/4 to win).
France coach Raymond Domenech claims he is “not bothered” about Mexico and Uruguay’s Group A game next week in despite the fact a draw will eliminate Les Bleus (France 17/2 – To Qualify).
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists his team are still in with a shout of finishing fourth after the Reds (14/1 for a top four finish) 4-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday.