Barcelona vs Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny returns to squad for Nou Camp showdown

Laurent Koscielny will return to the Arsenal squad ahead of their Champions League second-leg clash with Barcelona. The Gunners face the unenviable task of turning around a 2-0 deficit at the Nou Camp if they wish to progress into the quarter-finals of the competition, having been undone by a brace from Lionel Messi in the first leg a fortnight ago.

Arsenal lost Koscielny to a calf problem five days after that match, during a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, and have won just once in the four games since, a run that has seen them eliminated from the FA Cup and their Premier League title hopes all but extinguished.

France international Koscielny is back for 16 March's showdown with Luis Enrique's side, however, replacing stand-in defender Calum Chambers in the match-day squad.

Arsenal held their own impressively in the first-half of their first-leg clash with Barcelona, only to be undone by the magic of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the second. Wenger is wary the club will have to remain resolute at the back but has made it clear the club's priority will be to go out and attack the reigning Spanish and European champions.

"The magicians from Barcelona will demand a good defensive performance from our side," Wenger told a press conference, relayed through the club's Twitter account. "Our approach was not bad in the first leg but we lost our balance and got caught.

"We are in a position where we do not have to calculate too much. We know we have to attack and score goals. We have gone through a disappointing spell and it is important to remain calm and strong. We have won everywhere in Europe, but not here yet. The players are united to give a strong performance."

Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign against Everton on March 19 at Goodison Park.