Oxlade-Chamberlain starts in Arsenal's crucial Champions League clash with Montpellier

Arsene Wenger makes just one change for the Gunners' important European tie at the Emirates, with the sides joint-second on six points; one behind Group B leaders Schalke

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts for Arsenal in their Champions League game with Montpellier as Theo Walcott drops out of the squad due to  shoulder injury.

The former Southampton man replaces another ex-Saint in Arsene Wenger's only change from the north London derby victory over Tottenham.

Therefore, Thomas Vermaelen continues at left-back with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny again starting in the centre of defence.

Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, who all netted against Spurs, keep their places in the Gunners' attacking line-up for the important tie.

Mathieu Deplagne, who has never made a Ligue 1 appearance for Montpellier and whose only 90 minutes for the club has been in the league cup, starts for the French side.

The 21-year-old comes in for Souleymane Camara in one of two changes made by the visitors from their 1-1 draw with Valenciennes, while Jamel Saihi also misses out and Younes Belhanda replaces him.

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny Vermaelen; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Podolski.

Subs: Mannone, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Gibbs

Montpellier: Jourdren; Bedimo, Yanga-Mbiwa, El Kaoutari, Congre; Estrada, Cabella, Belhanda, Mounier; Deplagne, Charbonnier.

Subs: Pionnier, Hilton, Marveaux, Pitau, Jeunechamp, Martin, Herrera.