After last week's 1-1 draw at Highbury, our Champions League hopes look like resting on this game. While we could well still go through with another draw, a loss would give Ajax a big advantage over us. And Valencia have to be favourites to win the group now what with 2 home games left out of 3.

Still, it wasn't certain that Wenger would allow Dennis to go home for this game. He did go to Holland for the Eindhoven game earlier this season, but that was his only road-trip in Europe for a while, and in it he picked up an injury which kept him out for the next 5 games.

What will presumably have tipped the scales is an injury to Kanu which will keep him out for at least 2 weeks. Le Boss si reported to have said, "I will let him go quite early so he can rest over there. It is not ideal but the game is big, he is used to travelling to Holland and I will take a chance."

Good thinking, M. Wenger.

Rupe adds...
Early news from Ajax is that Rafael van der Vaart is said to be definitely out of the game. The Dutch international midfielder is due back from a long leg injury sometime soon, and there had been suggestions that it might even be this week. But Ronald Koeman has apparently ruled that out saying "he is almost fully fit, but not to be risked". The excellent performance (barring the first few minutes) of his youngsters at Highbury last week could have been an influence. They did lose 1-0 at Utrecht at the weekend though.