Wenger - Cesc is fully fit but may not start

Cesc Fabregas will be at ‘full fitness’ for the Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night – but he still might not start the game.

The Arsenal captain hobbled off at Sunderland just over a month ago with a hamstring injury and has been missing ever since. He was set to return for the visit of Birmingham on Saturday but his reappearance was delayed by a small setback. On Tuesday, no such problems are being anticipated however the Spaniard may still begin on the bench.

Theo Walcott did not finish Monday’s training session because of a small toe problem. But that is not expected to keep him out against Shakhtar. The ankle that had sidelined him before Saturday is fine.

However Laurent Koscielny (back), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Manuel Almunia (elbow) are still out.

“Cesc is available,” said Wenger at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “He is good and has prepared well.

“He had a little setback but got over the hurdle and is ready to play at full fitness.

“I do not know yet whether I start him or not but he is available. It will be [determined by] whether I take a gamble or not, because he has been out for a long time.

“I have to make up my mind tomorrow but physically he is ready, fit and wanting to play.”

The manager was also going to consider Walcott’s involvement overnight.

 “Theo has a toe problem,” said Wenger. “But his ankle is all right and he is in the squad. It would be difficult for me to tell you who will start because I do not know yet.

“But Koscielny, Vermaelen and Van Persie are all out and not available.”

Eboue: It's always about the team

Emmanuel Eboue knows people think he is "crazy" - but the utility man is deadly serious about helping Arsene Wenger's side achieve their goals.

Eboue is now something of a cult figure among Arsenal fans, having come full circle after suffering the ignominy of being replaced following a substitute appearance which saw him the subject of sarcastic jeers from the home supporters during a Premier League match against Wigan in December 2008.
The 27-year-old is often used an impact player by Wenger from the bench, utilising his pace down the flanks or to provide the team with a different dimension on the overlap, particularly in the Champions League.
However, with Bacary Sagna set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines after picking up a thigh problem while on international duty for France, Eboue is poised for an extended run in the side ahead of the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night where victory would all but secure Arsenal's qualification from Group H after only three games.
Eboue, though, has never let himself worry about how much playing time he is given, so long as it all works out for the collective good.
"I never think about myself - for me, it is always about the team," said Eboue, signed from Beveren seven years ago and who played in the 2006 Champions League final defeat against Barcelona.
"Even if I am not brought on, I am just privileged to be among the 18 players.
"When I play, I try to do my best, but I also love to see my friends score goals and play well, it makes me happy and proud.
"I have a responsibility to the squad whatever the situation.
"When Theo [Walcott] scored his hat-trick against Blackpool, I ran straight up to him. My heart is clean and I don't think negative things about people.
"God tells us to respect everyone so that is how I behave towards players, managers, staff, everybody I meet.
"People say I am crazy because I am always laughing and trying to make everyone happy, but it is how I am - it is not only at Arsenal, it is for the Ivory Coast also and at home with my wife and kids too."
Eboue had been linked with a move away from Arsenal during the summer. However, he stressed: "I am still so happy to be playing here, with these guys and for this manager.
"It was my dream before and to make seven years will be incredible.
"I am one of the senior players now - I feel comfortable within the squad and always do what I can to help the young boys."
Eboue is a popular member of the group, and Wenger paid tribute to the Ivorian's unique character.
"Emmanuel has a good club mentality and he has a sense of collective belonging," said the Arsenal manager.
"He wants to be part of the club and is a great player.
"Usually I will rotate him and Sagna, and Sagna has had more games because Eboue can play in midfield.
"But you need two right-backs and we have two quality right-backs.
"No matter who plays - Sagna or Eboue - we always feel we have a strong right-back."
Like the Gunners, Shakhtar have maximum points from their opening two Champions League matches.
Croatia striker Eduardo joined the Ukrainians during the summer, having found himself pushed down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium following the free transfer signing of Marouane Chamakh.
Wenger admits it was not easy to see Eduardo move on, the 27-year-old having fought his way back to full fitness following an horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle at Birmingham in February 2008.
"Eduardo is at the stage where he has to play and we could not guarantee him that time, that is why [I allowed him to leave]," the Arsenal manager recalled.
"But it makes me sad twice - because it reminds me how he got injured and because he is an outstanding guy."
Wenger added: "I did not expect to see him [again] so quickly, but we are happy to see him back."

Arsenal boss Wenger: "I did not want to lose Eduardo".

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was sorry having to sell Eduardo in the summer.
The Croatia striker returns to Arsenal this week with Shakhtar Donetsk for their Champions League clash.
"Eduardo is at the stage where he has to play and we could not guarantee him that time, that is why [I allowed him to leave]," the Arsenal manager recalled.
"But it makes me sad twice - because it reminds me how he got injured and because he is an outstanding guy."
Wenger added: "I did not expect to see him [again] so quickly, but we are happy to see him back."

Wilshere - I will learn from red card

Jack Wilshere admits he deserved to be sent off against Birmingham on Saturday but has vowed to learn from the incident.

The Arsenal midfielder received a straight red card in the dying minutes at Emirates Stadium following a challenge on Nikola Zigic.

The 19-year-old was contrite when he spoke to Arsenal.com afterwards but he will still be punished with a three-game domestic ban.

“I just want to say that I mistimed the challenge on Zigic and accept that I deserved to be sent off,” said Wilshere.

“I have no complaints about getting the red card and I will learn from this. I’m missing three matches now which I’m really disappointed about, but I just want to say that I deserved the red card.”

Arsenal Vs Birmingham City - Match Report

Chamakh fires Gunners past battling Blues

Arsenal got their Premier League campaign back on track with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Birmingham - but had Jack Wilshere sent off in stoppage time for a rash challenge.
The Blues took a shock lead through Nikola Zigic after 33 minutes as once again the Gunners - who had lost their past two league games before the international break - failed to make the most of early possession.
However, Samir Nasri levelled with a somewhat controversial penalty just before half-time, before Marouane Chamakh slotted home a well-taken effort two minutes after the restart which proved enough for all three points.
The win was soured late on, however, when England teenager Wilshere showed his immaturity with a reckless challenge on Zigic which earned him a straight red and a three-match ban.
Defeat at Chelsea last time out had left Arsenal some seven points off the pace, and manager Arsene Wenger had called on his team to produce a strong response from kick-off.
It was almost that as Chamakh went close after just four minutes following a neat one-two with Wilshere on the edge of Birmingham's box, but Stephen Carr blocked his side-foot effort.
Arsenal suffered a shock 3-2 defeat against West Brom in their previous match here last month - and there was more frustration for the home supporters during the first quarter-of-an-hour following some resolute defending by Birmingham.
On 17 minutes, Sebastien Squillaci headed in Samir Nasri's chipped free-kick from the right wing, but the offside flag was quickly up.
Arsenal were presented another golden opportunity on 24 minutes when a soft back pass from former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson in his own penalty area gifted Gael Clichy a free shot at goal from 10 yards, but the full-back dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had not really been troubled, but needed to be alert to collect an inadvertent backward header from Emmanuel Eboue, which was set for the top corner, after a free-kick into the Arsenal box.
The Blues, however, continued to look dangerous from set-pieces and it was no real surprise when the visitors went ahead after 33 minutes. A throw-in was fed back to Keith Fahey, and his sweeping cross was met by Zigic, who got up above Johan Djourou to power a header back into the bottom corner for the Serbian's first Premier League goal.
Birmingham almost snatched a second when Roger Johnson knocked the ball back across the six-yard box, but Fahey blazed over as he got in the way of Zigic.
Arsenal were then handed a lifeline five minutes before the break when Scott Dann clipped Chamakh's trailing leg and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot. Nasri made no mistake as he crashed in his fifth goal of the season.
The French winger, though, was soon in the referee's book for barging at Liam Ridgewell, although replays suggested the card could easily have been red after leading with his knee.
Tempers were boiling over as half-time approached, with Blues skipper Carr involved in a heated exchange with the Arsenal bench and Chamakh looked to be on the receiving end of an elbow from Johnson, but it went unpunished.
If there was a touch of controversy about Chamakh's involvement in the equaliser, the Morocco striker produced the perfect response as he put Arsenal ahead just two minutes after the restart. Wilshere played the ball into the left side of the penalty area, where Chamakh ghosted past Carr before holding off Dann as he rounded the goalkeeper to roll home his fifth goal from a tight angle.
Arsenal soon settled into their usual passing rhythm, as Birmingham suddenly found themselves chasing possession for long spells, but were again guilty of taking too many touches around the box when a more direct approach was required.
Wilshere did just that when charging into the left side of the penalty area before drilling an angled drive over. Both substitute Tomas Rosicky and Nasri tested Foster from distance while the introduction of Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner for his first appearance of the season gave Arsenal a different option.
But Wilshere's red card left a bad taste in the mouth after he went in late on Zigic moments before the final whistle.