Arsenal are ready for what is set to be a highly-charged Champions League encounter against Partizan Belgrade in Serbia.

Under-fire Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is out with an elbow injury so Lukasz Fabianski, who has also come in for some criticism for his performances, starts the match. The injured Abou Diaby is replaced by Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny and Gael Clichy are dropped so Johan Djourou partners Sebastien Squillaci in the continued absence of Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Kieran Gibbs returns after a foot injury. Tomas Rosicky and Denilson come in for Samir Nasri and Emmanauel Eboue.

Partizan Belgrade: 88-Vladimir Stojkovic, 3-Ivan Stevanovic, 13-Marko Jovanovic, 20-Mladen Krstajic, 18-Aleksandar Lazevski; 7-Nemanja Tomic, 8-Radosav Petrovic, 4-Medo, 22-Sasa Ilic; 11-Pierre Boya, 9-Cleo. /// Arsenal: 21-Lukasz Fabianski; 3-Bacary Sagna, 20-Johan Djourou, 18-Sebastien Squillaci, 28-Kieran Gibbs; 7-Tomas Rosicky, 17-Alex Song, 15-Denilson, 23-Andrey Arshavin; 19-Jack Wilshere, 29-Marouane Chamakh.

There are reports of problems with the electricity supply at the Stadion FK Partizan and the game could be delayed until they resolve the problem.

Partizan may have come through three rounds of qualifying to reach the group stages, but the Belgrade side are in good form, with five wins from six to top their domestic table.

The Gunners were shell-shocked by their home Barclays Premier League defeat to West Brom on Saturday, where they had trailed 3-0, and now must look to get their season back on track with a positive result in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football.