Gunners up for runners-up

Early days it may be,but with 10 wins and two draws from their last 12 matches in all competitions,including Champions League triumphs over Marseille and Napoli in Group F,there is talk of something special brewing in north London.

Recent seasons have seen mediocre starts for Arsenal but this time,after an opening day defeat,they have raced out of the blocks with the signing of Ozil seemingly the catalyst for some breathtaking performances. With record signing Ozil fitting into the Arsenal midfield like a silk glove,Aaron Ramsey unable to stop scoring,Jack Wilshere at his best and Santi Cazorla back from injury,manager Arsene Wenger has the look of the cat that got all the cream.

Last seasons runners-up Dortmund pose a considerable threat to the feeling of euphoria sweeping the Emirates stadium but victory would be a huge psychological boost,according to Mikel Arteta,another of Arsenals midfield gems. We have two very difficult games coming up against Dortmund, Arteta told Arsenals website. After that,we will know exactly where we are in the group. They are a very good side and they are doing well in their own league. Winning the first two games makes a difference and now we have a massive game at home. If we win that one we are almost there. I think this is going to be a crucial one.

Schalke hopeful

However ,Schalke 04 are hoping new signing Kevin-Prince Boateng as well as teenagers Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer can power the Germans past Chelsea on Tuesday as they look for their third win in three games in their Champions League group. With half a dozen players missing through injury,Schalke coach Jens Keller hinted that he would use a makeshift lineup on Tuesday.

We have to show a different face against Chelsea, said Keller. While he did not know what kind of team he would use,he promised there would be many young players. Goretzka and Meyer,both 18 years old and among Germanys biggest talents,were on target against Braunschweig,filling up on much-needed confidence before the match against Chelseas big names.

Ghana international Boateng,who has almost single-handedly jump-started Schalkes campaign to climb back up the table since joining in September,was ruled out with a knee injury on Saturday but is expected to return to training on Monday and Schalke hope he will be fit for Tuesday.

Schalke,top of Group E on six points,are aiming to get at least a draw against Chelsea to stay top of the table.

Obviously Chelsea are the favourites to win the group, said Schalke sports director Horst Heldt. Schalke have a string of injuries,with top striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar,central defender Kyriakos Papapdopoulos and midfielder Marco Hoeger out. They also had Jefferson Farfan ruled out for some four weeks earlier this month.

We have six points on the table and Chelsea have only three. They are still the favourites but it is them who are under pressure after losing on matchday one, said Heldt.

Eye-catching fixture

Meanwhile ,Spains big two face a pair of Italian giants,boasting 22 European Cups between them,as AC Milan aim to end a recent bad record against Barcelona and Juventus seek to peg back Real Madrid.

The weeks most eye-catching fixture,though,is Group H encounter at the San Siro as Milan and Barca meet for a third season in a row. The Spaniards triumphed 4-2 on aggregate in last terms round of 16 and they also met in the group stage the year before,drawing 2-2 in Spain and Barca winning 3-2 in Italy.

Barcelona also overcame Milan 1-0 on aggregate in the 2005/06 semi-finals on their way to their second of four continental titles. The match provides the Italians with not just a chance of revenge but also the possibility of going above their rivals in the Group H standings where Gerardo Martinos team lead with a perfect six points from two matches with Milan second on four.

In Group G,Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk is preparing to head back to his old side Porto on Tuesday,while group leaders Atletico Madrid travel to Austria Vienna having dropped their first La Liga points at the weekend.

AC Milans story the last two years has been one of inconsistent form,a perennial injury crisis and losing to old rivals Barcelona. So far this season,their form has been erratic as ever with only three wins in eight Serie A matches. On Tuesday,they will be hoping to vary the routine by beating the Catalans.

Milans only win in those six matches was in the first leg of last seasons round of 16 clash,but they were overwhelmed 4-0 in the return. With Barcelona yet to concede a goal or drop a point,Milan clearly have a tall order. Whatever happens on Tuesday,both sides should comfortably progress,Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic having so far managed only one point between them.