Benayoun starts for Gunners

Yossi Benayoun was handed his first Arsenal start in this evening’s Champions League clash at Borussia Dortmund.

The on-loan Chelsea midfielder was one of three changes to the side that defeated Swansea 1-0 at the weekend, with Alex Song and Gervinho coming in for Andrey Arshavin and the injured Aaron Ramsey.

Borussia Dortmund welcomed back skipper Sebastian Kehl and 19-year-old Germany midfielder Mario Gotze after the weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Hertha Berlin, with lkay Gundogan and Jakub Blaszczykowski dropping to the bench.

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, Bender, Kehl, Gotze, Kagawa, Grosskreutz, Lewandowski.

Subs: Langerak, Da Silva, Zidan, Blaszczykowski, Gundogan, Felipe Santana, Perisic.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Walcott, Benayoun, Gervinho, van Persie.

Subs: Fabianski, Park, Andre Santos, Djourou, Arshavin, Frimpong, Chamakh.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)