Arsene Wenger knows full well Arsenal's safe passage into the lucrative group stages of the Champions League is anything but a forgone conclusion.

Just under three months have passed since the Gunners' last competitive match, which saw their brave bid for European Cup glory come to an end on a rainy night in the Parisian suburbs.

Now Wenger must regroup his squad for a trip to Croatia ahead of Tuesday night's first leg of the third-round qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb.

The north London giants, though, look set to start their 2006/2007 Champions League quest without talisman striker Thierry Henry, who was given extra time off to recover from his World Cup exploits with France.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will also not be involved following his controversial dismissal against Barcelona in Paris - and it remains to be seen whether Wenger will select Ashley Cole to play, so making the wantaway defender ineligible for any other club in the competition this season.

The Arsenal manager hinted he could include teenager Theo Walcott, who was taken to the World Cup by England but has yet to feature in the Gunners first team following a big-money move from Southampton.

Although summer signing Tomas Rosicky is the more likely to play some part having impressed Wenger during his pre-season run-outs.

Freddie Ljungberg will, meanwhile, definitely miss game because of an ankle injury, but is expected to recover not too soon after the start of the Premiership against Aston Villa on August 19.

Gael Clichy (foot), Philippe Senderos (shoulder) and Abou Diaby (ankle) remain longer-term absentees.

Wenger, though, knows, whatever team he fields in the Maksimir Stadium on Tuesday night, Arsenal will be handed a stern test by the Croatian champions.

"They are a difficult side," the Frenchman noted. "They have a lot of experienced players, a lot of South Americans.

"Overall, they are a club with a history. They have a culture and know how to win these games. That is why for Arsenal, it will be a difficult game."

Wenger gave some indication as to his possible starting XI in Friday's friendly against AZ Alkmaar.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie started in attack, with both players, as well as Gilberto, on the scoresheet during the 3-0 victory.

Mathieu Flamini was asked to play in the left-back slot normally reserved for Cole, with the young Frenchman having performed admirably there for an extended spell last term.

Jose Antonio Reyes was another who started in Holland, despite the Spaniard again being linked with a move to Real Madrid this week.

Dinamo Zagreb, though, are confident of an upset. The Croatians sealed a 9-3 aggregate win over FK Ekranas of Lithuanian and firmly believe they can take a defendable advantage back to north London on August 23.

"We will be fully motivated and a full stadium will help us," declared striker Goran Ljubojevic, who netted a hat-trick in the last round.

"That is our chance in the first match against Arsenal."