1 Nov 2011

Arsenal defenders will play in Champions League match

6:44 am on 1 November 2011

The Arsenal defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Carl Jenkinson are fit to play in tomorrow's Champions League football clash with Olympique Marseille at the Emirates.

The Premier League side can secure a place in the last-16 with a Group F victory over their French visitors, whom they beat 1-nil thanks to a last-gasp winner by Aaron Ramsey in Marseille two weeks ago.

Arsenal's leaky defence played a large part in a poor start to the league season and matters have not been helped by injuries to the likes of Vermaelen and right back Bacary Sagna who broke his leg this month.

The Gunners have turned around their fortunes of late, having climbed to seventh in the Premier League, and are having no problems down the other end of the pitch where Robin van Persie is enjoying a hot streak of form, scoring 28 goals in his last 27 league games.

Arsenal lead the Champions League group with seven points from three games, one clear of Marseille, but the combination of remaining fixtures means they will finish in the top two and qualify for the knockout stage if they win tomorrow.