Tricky away tie with the Russkies

In a little under eight hours we'll be kicking off in Moscow. What with winter already having descended and them being three hours ahead it'd be no fun to kick off at the usual 19.45 GMT, as this would be 22.45 over there and there's more than a slight possibility that one or more of our players would literally freeze their bollocks off.

It's going to be a tough game, we all know that. Arsenal are famous for underperforming when playing away against sides in eastern Europe (I remember one game in the mid-90s when an Andrei Schevchenko-led Dinamo Kiev took us apart 4-1) and to be honest, with six points already in the bag, I'd quite happily take a point from this game. However I'm sure Arsene will be going all out for the win, as he should, but how will we line up?

With the in form RvP coming off the bench on Saturday rather than starting, I'm hopeful that he will be partnering Thierry up front, rather than Adebayor. That said, it may also hint to a slight deviation in formation. I think Arsene might revert to the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 that served us so well in Europe last season, moving van Persie out to a wide right or left foward position similar to his usual role with the Dutch national side. I think we might see a team that looks a little like this.

With Lauren and Eboue out, Flamini and Senderos turning out for the reserves last night, and Clichy still lacking match fitness, I think we'll see an unchanged back line. Rosicky and Fabregas were so good against Watford I doubt we'll see them drop out, and Gilberto is still the only real option in the holding role, although Denilson is in the squad for tonight's game. It's a shame Baptista is out because this is the sort of game I'd like to see him in, a tough, battling away tie in Europe. Hleb won't play as high up as he's pictured here, but with Freddie injured and Walcott still being handled with kid gloves (no pun intended) I think he'll line up wide right, with RvP wide left and Thierry as the one bonafide striker.

In other news Gael Clichy is confident that Arsene's new crop of young Guns has what it takes to dominate Europe. I like to see that kind of confidence, especially from a player who's had so many problems with injury affected his progression.

Come on you Reds.