Fabregas back for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has handed Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas his first start for more than four weeks in tonight’s Champions League Group H clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The midfielder, who has missed the Gunners’ last five matches with a hamstring injury, has returned to a starting XI that also sees Tomas Rosicky replace Andrey Arshavin, who drops to the bench.

Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner, who have been struggling with groin and ankle injuries respectively, have been named on the bench.

Eduardo, who left Arsenal for Shakhtar this summer, has been named among the substitutes for the Ukrainian side who, like the home side, go into the match with a 100% record after two matches.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri, Chamakh.

Subs: Szczesny, Diaby, Walcott, Denilson, Arshavin, Gibbs, Bendtner.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat, Gai, Hubschman, Mkhitaryan, Alex Teixeira, Willian, Luiz Adriano.

Subs: Khudzamov, Jadson, Eduardo, Kobin, Stepanenko, Douglas Costa, Chygrynskiy.

Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway).