Arsenal

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

The two sides face each other in Bloemfontein on Sunday with a place in the quarter finals up for grabs. Much has been spoken about in the press regarding the two sides’ previous meetings in major competitions but James says the squad are paying little attention to what’s being said in the media and focusing solely on the job at hand.

The goalkeeper told reporters: “It’s another football match, obviously there’ll be a lot of external references and whatever else, historical references. But for us it’s a game against a decent outfit – one we have to win to progress.”

England were disappointing in the group stages, drawing with both the USA and Algeria, but qualified for the last 16 thanks to a 1-0 victory against Slovenia and James is keen for the side to carry their form on.

“We can’t do anything about what happened,” he said. “We look back at the America game and the performance of Tim Howard which prevented a win.

“Algeria are very difficult to score against, and then we did what we needed to against Slovenia on Wednesday.”

However, the Three Lions were forced into second place in the group after Landon Donovon scored to fire the USA through as winners of Group C, leaving England to face Germany in what is possibly the pick of the second round ties. If England win the match they will go on to face a possibly even tougher test against the winner of the Argentina vs. Mexico match meaning they will have to win the tournament the hard way if they’re to lift their first trophy since 1966 (England 9/1 to win outright).

James started the World Cup as England’s second choice goalkeeper, despite being handed the number one shirt for the tournament,  but was given his chance after Robert Green’s blunder in the opening match against USA. James has looked solid on his return to the side and is keen to make the most of his opportunity after finally being given his chance at his third World Cup finals. James was an unused substitute in both Korea/ Japan 2002 and Germany 2006 and is yet to concede a goal during this tournament.

“When the squad was announced and the numbers issued it was more of a numerical thing than a suggestion of the first XI,” said the 39-year-old, the oldest player at the finals.

“True to Mr Capello’s previous selection process, he must have gauged something in training and felt Robert was the right goalkeeper to start with. I’m happy with that. I’m part of a squad. This World Cup isn’t about David James – it’s about England being successful. I trained as well as I could, got the chance to go back in and I’m happy.”

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France

France have drawn one and lost one so far, and so must beat hosts South Africa on Tuesday to stand any chance of making it into the last 16 at the World Cup.

Domenech’s team selection will be extremely interesting in Bloemfontein amid reports of a bust-up with Nicolas Anelka and the fact Thierry Henry has played just 20 minutes.

The France coach did restore Florent Malouda to his XI against Mexico but it did not go to plan, while Anelka was hauled off at half-time with the French media now claiming he was involved in an angry exchange with Domenech following criticism of the Chelsea striker’s recent performances.

But for now the outgoing France boss is just concerned with his side’s showdown with Bafana Bafana rather than worry about the outcome of the other group game which will kick off simultaneously.

He said: “I am not bothered about the others.

“We have to play and do our thing and the other match is not my problem.”

Domenech will leave his post when France exit the World Cup “whenever that may be”, with legendary defender Laurent Blanc already confirmed as his successor after six years in the hot seat.

Meanwhile, Uruguay defender Diego Godin insists La Celeste have every intention of beating Mexico which would be a massive help to the French cause (Uruguay 16/5 to win their last group game).

Ahead of the clash with El Tri, Villarreal star Godin claimed: “Our only thoughts are on Mexico and how to control possession, create goalscoring opportunities and finish them off.

“We have not conceded a goal so far and that is very important.

“If we do the same against Mexico, then we will have progressed to the next round and anything can happen from then on.”

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The Merseyside outfit are now two points behind fourth placed Tottenham with two games to go, although Spurs have a game in hand over Benitez’s men.

Just two points separate Liverpool in seventh and Tottenham (10/11 top four finish) in fourth after last weekend’s results which saw Spurs lose at Manchester United, Aston Villa (15/2) beat Birmingham and Manchester City (11/8) secure a point at Arsenal.

City and Spurs look to have the advantage in the race for fourth with a game in hand over their rivals, although that match is between the two sides at Eastlands on May 5.

With the gap between the four sides paper thin who get the last Champions League spot could well come down to goal difference, an aspect the Reds have a slight edge in following their four goal thumping of Burnley.

Liverpool took full advantage of a Clarets side out of sorts and condemned the Lancashire outfit to relegation after just one season in the Premier League.

Following Sunday’s win Benitez, who guaranteed a top four finish for Liverpool earlier in the season, was once again talking up his sides chances of playing Champions League football again next season.

“We know they (Tottenham and Manchester City) still have one game in hand but we are close and we will try our best,” said the Spaniard.

“If we finish on 68 points we will have a chance because we will have better goal difference.”

Liverpool face Chelsea (1/2 to win the Premier League) next Sunday in a game that could have massive implications for both sides as the Blues continue to battle it out with Manchester United for the title.

Chelsea opened up a one point gap over United on Sunday with a stunning 7-0 victory over Stoke meaning should they beat Liverpool next week and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side lose to Sunderland they will be crowned champions.

However, before welcoming the Londoners to Anfield the Reds face Athletico Madrid (10/11 to qualify for the final) in the return leg of their Europa League semi-final.

The Spaniards, who beat Tenerife 3-1 at the weekend, have a slender one goal advantage heading into the game and will have been lifted by the news that Dirk Kuyt might not be fit to play against them on Thursday night.

The Holland international was forced off during the game against Burnley with a calf injury and is now doubtful for Thursday night.

Liverpool are already without Fernando Torres, Maxi Rodriguez, Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel and Benitez will be hopeful Kuyt doesn’t join the growing injury list at Anfield.

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