Fabregas looks to Liverpool

Labouring start
Liverpool laboured in the Premiership last term, eventually finishing fifth, but it did not prove a drag on a triumphant run in Europe's premier club competition. Arsenal are even lower this season, going into the Group B tie with Sparta lying seventh in the table, yet Fabregas insists it will not affect their European ambitions. "We have a great team, we can do it for sure," he said. "Take Liverpool last season - so why not us?"

European fillip
Arsenal's UEFA Champions League form this campaign certainly backs up his belief, and they have beaten all their group rivals, FC Thun, AFC Ajax and Sparta, to move within reach of the knockout stage. A win in London on Wednesday would secure a berth in the next round, but manager Arsène Wenger is not being complacent. "We want to qualify and we want to finish top," the Frenchman said. "When we have done that, then we can rest one or two of our players."

Henry return
Wenger watched his side battle to earn a 1-1 derby draw at Tottenham Hotspur FC on Saturday, a game which saw Fredrik Ljungberg limp off with a hamstring injury midway through the second half. The Sweden midfielder has not recovered, while Ashley Cole is also sidelined, but Arsenal have been lifted by the potential return of the talismanic Thierry Henry after he was rested following a groin injury. "If there is the slightest risk, I will not take it," Wenger said. "But he trained on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I expect he'll start."

Mourinho aside
The Tottenham result made it seven points from four league matches for Arsenal, but Wenger was keen to refute claims by Chelsea FC manager José Mourinho that he was becoming preoccupied with the Premiership champions. "I find it out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful," he said. Respect is something Sparta are unlikely to lack as they seek to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive by beating the team they lost 2-0 against a fortnight ago.

Sparta struggle
Like Arsenal, the Czech outfit are struggling somewhat in domestic competition, but they have been unable to marry it with European form, taking a single point from their opening three fixtures. They travel without any supporters, after the club turned down their ticket allocation, although coach Stanislav Griga believes they can succeed without them, saying: "It's always nice to have our fans, but we will have to do our best without them this time."

Element of surprise
Griga, who is missing midfielders Karol Kisel (collarbone) and Jan Šimák (flu), has had a fraught introduction to life as Sparta coach since replacing Jaroslav Hrebík last month. "I'm only three weeks into a new job so I prefer not to talk about our difficulties now," he said. "We have enough problems trying to compete in three competitions at once. As for Arsenal, we know they are the best team in the group so this game is a big challenge." With that in mind, he is hoping his side can provide an element of surprise: "I know who will play, but I want to keep it to myself for now."