It'd be a big test for Fabregas and Flamini in the centre of midfield, and you'd think they'd need plenty of experience around them. It may not be available.

Dennis Bergkamp is rated at just 2% possibility of making the Ajax game with a back and groin injury. I don't know if he's travelled but if that's a true percentage I'd be surprised if Wenger let him go.

Henry is of course still out for a month, and van Persie is suspended for this one match following his unfortunate sending off against Thun. That leaves Reyes, but partnered by whom?

Well it seems likely to be either Freddie Ljungberg or Quincy, the pairing that finished the West Ham game up front. If Freddie goes up front then Hleb or Clichy will probably come in to play on the wing. It's also possible that Hleb will be used in a central role. All this depends also on Pires of course, who missed the West Ham game after suffering a dead leg against Everton, but it rated as having a 70% chance of being fit for Ajax. Whoever plays, we'll be trying something new as far as the strike force is concerned...

At the back, at least, there are no new injuries and we should see the back four of Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole continue. Hopefully this will take a bit of pressure off the defensive duties of whoever's trying to fill Gilberto's boots. But Jens Lehmann is suspended so it will be the less-experienced Almunia in goal, with Mart Poom on the bench. Senderos's back in still a problem so Cygan will be standing by.

Ajax did well to snatch a draw at Sparta Prague in the first Champs League game, but have had a slow start to their domestic season. They're 6th in the Dutch table with 10 points from 6 games (sound familiar?). Having said that, they did thump Roda JC 4-1 at the weekend. Greek international striker Charisteas got a couple and the experienced Czech midfielder Tomas Galasek scored a penalty. They also have injury problems including full back Hatem Trabelsi (he's on his way back but coach Danny Blind has said that the Arsenal game's probably too early for him). Czech defender Zdenek Grygera (who joined them from Sparta Prague) also missed the Roda match, and during it Spanish striker Mauro Rosales and midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Nigel De Jong picked up injuries in it which could keep them out tomorrow.

We last played Ajax (apart from pre-season friendlies) in the Champs League of 02-03, when the matches against their young side were drawn both home and away. Ashley Cole has been calling for Arsenal to be more attacking in Europe. There's no doubt in my mind that we've got better results in recent years, when going into a match with the feeling that we need to win as opposed to just needing to avoid a loss.

Rupe adds...
According to the official site on Monday afternoon, Gilberto and Bergkamp are definitely out of the squad. Pires is in the squad but Wenger is unsure whether to start him. Lupoli has been drafted in as another attacking option.