That leaves a pretty obvious starting 11, if one accepts that Edu's experience will get him the nod ahead of Cesc:

Lehmann; Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole;
Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu, Pires; Henry, Reyes

I guess there is a possibility that Campbell might be rested, but all indications are that he came through Saturday's match without any problems. Sol himself says, "I will now be able to play three games a week no problem. The fitness is back and I feel good and sharp. If the manager wants me to play in Trondheim, I will be able to do so."

The other slight doubt is over Pires who missed the weekend's match with a foot injury. If he's out then perhaps both Edu and Cesc would play, or Robin van Persie might get his first start. But Pires has travelled and should be ok.

Various Arsenal players, including Freddie Ljungberg, have been saying it's important no tto underestimate the Norwegian side. Apparently Rosenborg have not lost a home tie in Europe since 2001. They lost their first match to Panathinaikos, but Thierry Hnery says they played well enough to win it. Also worth pointing out that they're near the end of their domestic season (and a handful of games away from retaining their title) so should be on top form.

As for Rosenborg, the only player most of us will have come across before is Vidar Riseth. Hopefully we'll be better acquainted with their keeper Espen Johnsen by the end of tonight. Eirik Heleve has kindly sent the following appraisal:

Based in Trondheim, Rosenborg is currently on course for their 13th straight championship (a European record, i believe), and their 15th since 1988. During the same period they've won the double six times.

A very wealthy club (by Norwegian standards), thanks to the Champions League, and to selling a number of players to clubs abroad. Players sold during the 1990's include Øyvind Leonhardsen, Stig Inge Bjørnebye, Vegard Heggem, Bjørn Tore Kvarme (who all used to play for Liverpool), John Carew (formerly at Valencia, now at Besiktas), Steffen Iversen (Tottenham, now at Vålerenga, Oslo), Jon Olav Hjelde (Nottingham Forest), Harald Brattbakk (Celtic, now back at Rosenborg), Trond Egil Soltvedt (Coventry, Southampton and Sheffield W), Sigurd Rushfeldt (Austria Wien) and André Bergdølmo (Borussia Dortmund). The club spends their money well, their ground, Lerkendal, has almost been rebuilt, and rumours are that they will use the income from this year's CL to build a roof over the entire ground. (For some reason, it always rains during their home games in CL, so the roof will be very useful.)

Rosenborg took part in the CL for eight years straight, before they failed to qualify for last year's competition. This is only the second time that they meet English opposition. They played Blackburn in 1995-96, and won 2-1 at home, lost 1-4 at Ewood Park.

Their most successful CL year was in 1996-97, when their final group match was against the mighty AC Milan at San Siro. Both teams needed a win to qualify, and Rosenborg won 2-1, thanks to a Vegard Heggem goal. In the quarter final they lost narrowly to Juventus (0-0 at home, 0-1 away), who later lost in the final.

The following season only a last minute equaliser for Olympiakos stopped their progress. With 11 points, they finished second in their group (which also included Real Madrid and Porto), but in those days only two of the runners'-up (?) made it through to the quarter finals. In 1999-2000 they won their group, but fell heavily at the second group stage (against Bayern Münich, Dynamo Kiev and Real Madrid).

In the CL, they have a good record at home, having beaten the likes of Blackburn (2-1, 1995-96), Olympiakos (5-1), Porto (2-0) and Real Madrid (2-0, all in 1997-98), Galatasaray (3-0, 1998-99), Paris St.Germain (3-1, 2000-01), Celtic 2-0, 2001-02). On their travels, they're capable of anything – they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in Germany in 1999-2000, but have also lost 2-7 against Paris ST Germain (2000-2001) and 0-5 against Lyon (2002-03).

They failed to reach the CL last year, but only after a narrow defeat against Deportivo La Coruna (0-0, 0-1), who of course lost to Porto in the semis. In the qualifier last month they were as good as dead – a Brattbakk strike in injury time earned them extra time, against a ten-man Maccabi Haifa, and two extra time goals settled the game.

So they have a rather good record, but the team is aging. The core of the team has been the same since the mid 90's. Their key players have been Erik Hoftun in central defence, Ørjan Berg in midfield, and, to a certain degree, Harald Brattbakk up front. Hoftun is 35, good in the air, but has never been particularly fast. Berg is one year older, but remains a tremendous player – good technique, and excellent vision. Brattbakk, 33, is the all-time top scorer in the Norwegian top flight, but has lost most of his speed, and is not as dangerous as he used to be. These days he normally plays as a left winger, with Frode Johnsen, a good header of the ball, as the central striker. Another player to look out for is Daniel Braaten, who they signed this summer. Braaten plays on the right wing, is the most promising and exciting Norwegian youngster, and is one of the few players in this rather aging team that's capable of beating an opponent.

Even if their entire starting line-up have played for Norway at international level, Rosenborg's style of play is the opposite of the national team. It's all based on attack and entertainment, and when their best player, Ørjan Berg, retired early from the national team, he explained that it was no fun to be a midfielder in the national team, where the midfield was rarely used.

At Highbury in December, it will be like playing Middlesbrough. At Lerkendal, however, it may be different – Arsenal is a far better team, but Rosenborg has a habit of raising their game for the CL, so I do not expect an easy game.

Huge thanks to Eirik for that. For Rosenborg links see our Arsenal vs Rosenborg page. Click on the "FAQ" link on this page for more about this year's competition.