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LONDON. — Arsenal rookie Emiliano Martinez believes the rigours of the Championship have made him ready for the Champions League soccer. Third choice keeper Martinez (22) will play in the Gunners’ group game away to Belgians Anderlecht in Brussels tonight because Wojciech Szczesny is suspended after being sent off on matchday two against Galatasaray and understudy David Ospina is injured.

In addition, Arsene Wenger’s men are likely to have 17-year-old keeper Ryan Huddart on the bench as Dejan Iliev (19) is suspended and Matt Macey (20) is ineligible.
But Argentinian Martinez, who has conceded six goals in two first-team appearances for the Gunners, says he toughened up during a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in the second tier last season Martinez — previously known as Damian “ said: “I’ve been working on being more commanding in the box. I didn’t have any experience before and I went to the Championship, which is all about crosses and making the right decision

“I learnt a lot because I played nearly 20 games so I’m a completely different keeper now. I was working really hard and I played really well in quite a few wins and gained a lot of experience.

“I’ve been working with Wojciech for nearly four years already. Since I came to Arsenal I’ve been working with him.”
Manager Wenger will bring back Calum Chambers in his defence but must decide whether to stick with experience and use Nacho Monreal in the middle or to play rookie right-back Hector Bellerin and the 19-year-old Chambers centrally.

Jack Wilshere should be fit to play in midfield but misses Saturday’s trip to Sunderland after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 2-2 draw with Hull.
If Anderlecht are to have any realistic chance of prolonging their involvement in the Champions League beyond the group stage, a home win over Arsenal tonight is paramount.
The Belgium side are joint bottom of Group D with one point from their opening two games, two points behind Arsenal and five behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal are not firing on all cylinders, however, and Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Hull City left Wenger’s side 11 points off the pace in the English Premier League. The London club are still formidable opponents, but if ever there was a good time to face the Gunners it might be when they are stretched with record signing Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy injured and first-choice keeper Szczesny suspended after his red card against Galatasaray. — Soccernet.