By John Drayton
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Arsenal trained at their London Colney base before flying out to France on Tuesday ahead of their Champions League group opener against Marseille.
Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud have been passed fit for Wednesday's game while Per Mertesacker is back in contention after missing the win at Sunderland.
Per Mertescaker was ruled out of the trip to the Stadium of Light while Thomas Vermaelen (back) returned to full training last week.
Overlooking: Wenger of looks on during an Arsenal training session at London Colney
On their way: The players warm up in preparation for the visit to Marseille
Isaac Hayden and Chuba Akpom are both in Arsne Wenger's 18-man squad to face Marseille but Serge Gnabry and Emmanuel Frimpong have not travelled to France.
Defender Laurent Koscielny feels Arsenal must get their Champions League campaign off to a flying start in Marseille if they are to safely negotiate what could prove to be a testing group.
The Gunners, fourth in the Barclays Premier League last season, maintained their superb record of qualifying for Europe's elite club competition once again by comfortably beating Fenerbahce both home and away in last month's play-off tie.
Strengthened: Ozil (left) should be fit to face Marseille after an impressive debut on Saturday
Pals: Flamini (left) and Giroud (right) pose together ahead of training in London
However, progression through to the knockout stages will be no easy ride, with 2013 runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Italy's second-placed side Napoli, now managed by Rafael Benitez, completing Group F.
Speaking to Arsenal Player, he said: 'If we can get a good result at Marseille it sets us up well, as we have two home matches after this.
'The most important thing in the Champions League is to start well.
'It will be hard to win at Marseille, but we have the quality to do it.
On our way: Wilshere and Ozil posted pictures from their private team jet on Twitter
More progress: Wenger's Arsenal went out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage to Bayern Munich
'We are experienced in the Champions League and are all looking forward to this challenge again.'
'It will be a difficult group,' he said.
'We know Marseille and Dortmund, as we have played in the last two years against them.
'Marseille bought some good players this season and they have the quality to be dangerous up front, while Dortmund, of course, played in the Champions League final - and we all know the quality in their team.'
Balance: Arsenal are fantastic to watch when in full-flow, but Arsene Wenger cannot rely too much on monentum
Through: Arsenal overcame Fenerbahce in the play-off stages with a convincing victory
Difficult goup, but first time for many years I can see Arsenal on its way to the final.
- villamedici , Bangkok, Thailand, 18/9/2013 06:01
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