The good news is that Reyes' hand injury isn't bad enough to stop him playing, although Pires is expected to return so one of Reyes or Bergkamp will move to the bench. But Clichy is not ready to return yet and, according to the Arsenal.com preview, Jermaine Pennant is sidelined with a hamstring problem too.

Wenger is quoted as saying he expects Panathinaikos to play better away from home than they did when they drew with us in Athens, and for the usual reason... "They are a physically strong side who have two strikers who can score goals and the midfield will be packed. It will be difficult for us to find space." On the other hand, the Greek side have never won in 7 visits to England.

They have Markus Munch still out injured, along with Greek international defender Goumas who has a muscle strain.

An update on fellow group members Rosenborg from our Norwegian correspondent Eirik...

"This weekend Rosenborg notched up their 13th straight championship, but it was closer than ever: They had the same number of points, and the same goal difference as Vålerenga, who finished second. Amazingly, this has been the situation for the last two games, in the previous round both clubs won 1-0, while this weekend they both won with three goals. Vålerenga won 3-0 (with one goal from Kjetil Wæhler, a trialist with Arsenal in 1995 or 1996), Rosenborg won 4-1 (with the final and decisive goal coming two minutes from time, a glorious diving header from Frode Johnsen)."

"How does an ambitious club react to the close race? With two games to go, it was revealed that their manager Ola By Rise's contract would be terminated at the end of the season. A very harsh decision - not many manager manage to win the championship in their very first season ever as manager, and By Rise has also had to deal with a rather aging squad. He's been with the club (as player, and assistant manager) since 1977 (and, as a young punk rocker, used to drum for the group Edge). His final match for Rosenborg will be at Highbury in December."