BARCELONA, Spain (AP)

Arsenal will have to cope with injuries and carry the momentum from last week's comeback draw against Barcelona to pull off a Champions League quarter-final victory at the Camp Nou today.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be forced to alter their starting line-ups because of injuries and suspension.

Barcelona are without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and centre backs Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, while Arsenal is hurting even more with a handful of starters missing, including captain Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin.

Following the 2-2 draw in the first leg, Arsenal will need to go for victory since the European champions hold the away-goal advantage.

"The first game was very exciting. The second game promises to be even more because we need to score goals," Wenger said yesterday. "The key is in our performance and not in any speculation over who plays on the other side."

equalising penalty

Both teams will take momentum from league wins on Saturday, with an understrength Barcelona rolling over Athletic Bilbao 4-1 and Nicklas Bendtner's injury-time goal earning Arsenal a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fabregas broke his leg scoring the equalising penalty in the first leg, although the former Barcelona youth player would not have played in the return match anyway because of suspension. Arsenal are also without Arshavin (calf), William Gallas (calf) and Alex Song was ruled out yesterday with a groin injury that puts further strain on the defence.

Wenger said Samir Nasri will lead the offence, while Theo Walcott could play a big part after starting the Gunners' rally last time with a goal.

Although Guardiola lauded Walcott's qualities, he didn't think the England winger would be Arsenal's salvation.

"Walcott was not the determining factor. The determining factor was Almunia who stopped a thousand shots," Guardiola said. "If he hadn't made all of those saves we probably wouldn't be talking about things the way we are."

make history

Wenger said possession will be key to reaching the semi-finals.

"I think we have won everywhere in Europe at all the big clubs, I think the only place we haven't done it is here," the Frenchman said. "We have the opportunity and this club has the chance to grab opportunity and make history."

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should expect more of the same from Guardiola's charges, especially with the inexperienced defender Craig Eastmond or Mikael Silvestre likely to fill in in defence with 35-year-old Sol Campbell a doubt because of a hamstring injury.

And Barcelona will have Andres Iniesta back in attack early from a leg injury after Guardiola included him on the team list.

"We have to forget about the last performance against Arsenal. We have to play good again," the Catalan coach said. "We're going to try to be ourselves and to get the ball and I think Mr Wenger thinks the same. The team that has the ball more is going to win."

Ibrahimovic, who scored both goals at Arsenal, tore a muscle in his right calf, while Pique hurt his leg, although he was already suspended for the game.

Rafael Marquez and Gabriel Milito, who hasn't started a Champions League match in nearly two years, are the most likely fill-ins, although midfielder Yaya Toure could play despite hurting his ankle against Athletic.

Barcelona does have Lionel Messi back to his scoring ways after the winger netted for the first time in four games on Saturday for his league-leading 26th goal and 35th overall.