Arsenal: The hosts look light up front going into this one with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible, Danny Welbeck having picked up a slight back injury and Alexandre Lacazette having only recently returned from a six-week layoff. A groin problem fro Petr Cech mean David Ospina will start, but at Arsenal's cup goalkeeper that may have been the case anyway.
CSKA: Defender Viktor Vasin will play no part after suffering a torn cruciate knee ligament in Frebruary, whilst midfielder Astemir Gordyushenko is out until June with a meniscus problem. Right-back Mario Fernandes is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury but this game is likely to come too soon for this one. Kirill Nababkin is suspended.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"There is some extra pressure on us to do extremely well in this competition. That’s part of being where we are. I must say we have to see it in a way that it’s an opportunity we want to take and keep the priorities right - that means focusing on how well we play together, on the quality of our game, on how we want to play football. After, the consequence will be a positive result."
Did you know?
The Russians have a good record against Arsenal (W4 D2 L2) and claimed four points from the 'Gunners' in the Champions League Group Stage in 2006/07 without conceding a single goal.
Form:
Possible lineups:
Arsenal: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere; Ozil, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan.
CSKA: Akinfeev; V.Berezutski, Ignashevich, A.Berezutski, Schenikov; Natkho, Golovin, Kuchaev; Dazgoev, Wernbloom, Musa.