Marseille Vs. Arsenal, 2011 UEFA Champions League: The Short Fuse Expects To Rest Some Starters

Marseille are struggling in France, but are currently sitting on top of Group F in the UEFA Champions League on six points. Arsenal are sitting behind them with four points from two games, so most would expect that Arsenal's goal would be to take four points out of the next two games against Marseille to take control of the group. However, it seems like Arsenal fans are a bit more concerned with their terrible league form than they are with winning their Champions League group. Could they actually rest players away to Marseille so that they can be at full fitness against...Stoke City?!? Arsenal FC blog The Short Fuse has this very attitude.

Arsenal have announced the 18 gentlemen making the voyage for the squad. They are the usual suspects, although Kieran Gibbs is not coming along due to the injury he picked up on Sunday. This means that Arsenal's fullbacks are likely to be Carl Jenkinson and Andre Santos, the latter of who looked very good in his time against Sunderland, even defensively. Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad, and one wouldn't be surprised to see him start in the middle, although Tomas Rosicky played really well. It will be interesting to see, though, if Wenger opts to use Yossi Benayoun or Frances Coquelin tomorrow, so he can rest some key players ahead of the Stoke match this coming Sunday. Emmanuel Frimpong is not making the journey, but Coquelin could fill in for Song or possibly even Jenkinson on the right.