All Present And Correct - Nearly!

Arsenal will be without suspended Cesc Fabregas for tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie at Liverpool. Good news though is the improving situation with regard to the injury list.

Full-back Emmanuel Eboue (knee) should return, while Julio Baptista (ankle) as well as fit-again veteran Lauren and centre-half Johan Djourou are also in contention.

Theo Walcott (back), Togo striker Adebayor (thigh), Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) and William Gallas (thigh) remain unlikely to feature while Abou Diaby is now back in training following his recovery from a broken ankle.

We must be very close to having a full squad to choose from for the first time in nearly two years. That will tell us the answers to some important questions.

We will finally discover if Arsene Wenger will revert primarily to a 4-4-2 formation with all his options available to him. I think that is likely, but then which eleven will be considered his strongest.

There are some positions where there is no doubt. Lehmann, Toure, Gallas, Clichy would I believe form four of the back five. Will Lauren’s experience edge out Eboue’s enthusiasm for the right-back berth?

Ask ten fans about their preferred midfield quartet and you could get seven or eight options from Hleb/Ljungberg, Gilberto/Diaby, Cesc (surely an automatic choice), and Rosicky/Walcott. That list omits Baptista, Flamini, and the blossoming Denilson.

The main question up front could put Van Persie back in contention for the left-sided midfield berth if you believe Adebayor has earned the right to partner Henry in a front two.

So fabulous options await if the Gunners can avoid any new knocks in the next few weeks, just as we are getting to the sharp end of the season where the medals are up for grabs. It’s an exciting prospect to be sure.