Nasri passed fit for Barca clash

Arsenal playmaker Samir Nasri has been declared fit for tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with Barcelona at Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger revealed this afternoon that Nasri has been included in the squad for the last-16 tie, giving the Gunners an enormous boost ahead of their biggest game of the campaign.

Nasri, the club’s top scorer this season with 14 goals, has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury against Huddersfield in the FA Cup on January 30.

The 23-year-old France international was thought to be a week away from regaining fitness but he trained this morning and could start the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger said: “Samir is in the squad and the starting line-up will be decided tomorrow.

“I will take no medical risk. It’s good to have him in the squad.

“He’s recovered quicker than expected. I said it would be 21 days but it will be only 17 days.

“Everybody’s absolutely adamant that he’s completely medically available. It’s down to me to make the decision.”

Bacary Sagna is suspended while Abou Diaby is missing with a calf problem, but Tomas Rosicky has recovered from his groin injury.

Provisional squad: Szczesny, Koscielny, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Walcott, Eboue, Wilshere, Fabregas, Arshavin, Nasri, van Persie, Rosicky, Almunia, Gibbs, Denilson, Chamakh, Bendtner.