Next up..... Roma at home
The Champions league returns and an early chance to put the frustration of Saturday’s draw with Sunderland behind us. It’s going to be tough the competition to win outright, but there are lot tougher draws out there and I think we have a decent chance to progress at least to the quarter finals.


The opposition – Roma
After making a dreadful start to the campaign, Luciano Spalletti's side have gone on a seven-match unbeaten run since Christmas that has lifted them up to sixth in the Serie A table, rekindling hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.


Last time out: Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0 Roma 1 Siena 0
Another afternoon of frustration at The Emirates as Arsenal, even with new midfield maestro Arshavin, couldn’t break down a stubborn Sunderland defence. Roma meanwhile grabbed a narrow victory over Siena thanks to a goal from Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei.


Last meeting Arsenal 1 Roma 1 March 11 2003
A Patrick Vieira header put Arsenal in front after 12 minutes and Francesco Totti’s red card looked to have put the Gunners in control. But Antonio Cassano stunned Highbury when he rounded David Seaman and slotted home in first-half stoppage time.


Team News
Abou Diaby should be back after recovering from a thigh problem but Arsene Wenger is still without
Captain Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon), Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor (both hamstring). Andrey Arshavin meanwhile is ineligible after playing for Zenit earlier in the competition.

Probable XI
Almunia,
Sagna Gallas Toure Clichy
Eboue Denilson Diaby Nasri
Bendtner Van Persie

Key men

Arsenal –William Gallas
With so much firepower missing the priority has to be keeping a clean sheet at the other end. An away goal could be costly so a big performance is needed from the Frenchman,

Roma – Francesco Totti
One pf the best players of his generation, he has the ability to win the game on his own. He will need to be closely watched.
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Latest match odds
Match odds: Arsenal 21/20 Roma 7/2 The draw 12/5

Prediction
I can’t see many goals in this one. We will be wary of conceding an away goal and Roma, being the typical Italian side they are, would quite happily play out a 0-0 draw. However I think Arsenal might snatch a goal and take a vital lead over to Italy.

Arsenal 1 Roma 0
Van Persie


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