By Nick Teale
Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie will make their first starts of the season at Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.
Laurent Koscielny returns to the starting XI from suspension. Marouane Chamakh, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky drop to the bench from the side that beat Blackpool 6-0 last weekend.
Midfielder Denilson does not make the squad.
Arsenal team in full: Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Gibbs, Eboue, Wilshere, Rosicky, Vela, Chamakh
