SUMMER signing Granit Xhaka, a former Basle player, makes just his third Arsenal start as he is drafted in for the injured Francis Coquelin.
The Switzerland international replaced Coquelin after he suffered a knee injury in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Chelsea, but Wenger revealed the prognosis of the Frenchman’s injury was better than first expected.
Wenger said: "He is out of the game but it should be a short-term injury because the scan was quite positive and I think it will be three weeks out.
"It's positive because last year during this period we got some bad news and a few long-term injuries and it was a handicap in our season.
"After you play always the same players and you lose a little bit of your edge physically. The fact is we have a compact squad, but of top quality, so to keep everybody together is a big plus."
Wenger is likely to recall goalkeeper David Ospina in place of Petr Cech as he did for the 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
Wenger said: "For us as well I think the team is on the way up. It's important not to have a setback, an unexpected setback and that we keep the quality very high in our performance."
Referee: D Makkelie (Netherlands).
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