Van Persie starts for Gunners

Robin van Persie will mke his first Champions League start in more than a year as Arsenal look to secure their passage through to the last 16 with victory over Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates Stadium.

Laurent Koscielny has retained his position in the Gunners starting line-up after recovering from a head injury he picked up against Fulham while Kieran Gibbs comes in for Gael Clichy, who misses out through illness.

Denilson replaces Tomas Rosicky in the other change to Arsene Wenger’s team while Partizan, who are rock bottom of Group H, make three changes from the side that lost 3-1 to the Londoners in the reverse fixture in September.

Arsenal v Partizan Belgrade

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Gibbs, Nasri, Song, Denilson, Arshavin, van Persie, Chamakh. Subs: Szczesny, Rosicky, Vela, Walcott, Wilshere, Eboue, Bendtner.

Partizan Belgrade: Stojkovic, Krstajic, Jovanovic, Medo, Lazevski, Savic, Sasa Ilic, Petrovic, Babovic, Moreira, Cleo. Subs: Radisa Ilic, Stankovic, Brasanac, Davidov, Kizito, Iliev, Smiljanic.

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)