IMPRESSIVE: Theo Walcott, 18, was among the young Gunners who held Slavia Prague to a goalless draw earlier this month. The result gave Arsenal a place in the last 16. -- PHOTO: AP

Although Arsenal have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition, a loss will mean the Spanish hosts will leapfrog ahead in their Group H standings.

That would damage Arsenal's hopes in the latter stages of the competition, with teams who finish top receiving the benefit of playing at home in the second leg in the next round, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Only one point separates the two sides, with group leaders Arsenal on 10 points.

Wenger's dilemma: How to once more give his young, less experienced players the chance to impress in a game he does not want to lose.

He is again expected to change the line-up that beat Wigan 2-0 in Saturday's Premier League match.

He had rotated his squad for the last game away against Slavia Prague - Alexandre Song, Nicklas Bendtner, Lassana Diarra, Justin Hoyte and Theo Walcott all starting - and was rewarded with a hard-fought, 0-0 draw and a place in the last 16.

He promised then that he would do the same again, and nothing has changed his mind.

Wenger told the newspaper: 'Some players will be rested for Sevilla. It will be a similar side to that against Slavia.

'It is an exciting match because it gives some players the chance to show how good they are in a different context because first place is at stake.

'I think it is an important game to play. First place is important but I have to try and combine the two situations I face.

'Knowing the amount of games we have in December, we have to make a choice.''

Arsenal have nine matches next month - seven Premier League matches, one Champions League fixture and one League Cup tie.

They will be missing midfielder Alexander Hleb with a hamstring injury while Mathieu Flamini is doubtful with a thigh problem.

But they will welcome back influential playmaker Francesc Fabregas, who did not play last week as he was suspended.

Arsenal beat Sevilla, then under Juande Ramos, now the Tottenham manager, 3-0 at the Emirates at the start of the group stage back in September.

Sevilla, meanwhile, are hoping Arsenal's visit will inspire an improvement after the latest setback in a season marked by inconsistency.

They can advance from Group H by beating Arsenal.

The match comes three days after they lost 1-2 to Mallorca, their seventh defeat in 12 Spanish Primera Liga matches.

Sevilla have already shown this season they can bounce back from disappointing defeats by winning at their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

They beat Real Madrid 2-0 after losing 3-4 to Atletico Madrid on Oct 31.

Although the goals have been flowing - Kanoute and Brazil striker Luis Fabiano combining for 19 in all competitions - the problem is in defence.

Captain Daniel Alves' form continues to fizzle after his botched move to Chelsea, and Javi Navarro's continued absence through injury has exposed the centre-back options.

'Now that the Mallorca match has passed and although the defeat was very tough, we have to think about winning against Arsenal,' said coach Manolo Jimenez, who has a 3-1-3 record since taking over from Ramos last month.

'Already, we have switched focus because they are different competitions and we can win our group.

'You have to play against some fantastic clubs and we are managing to win at the moment, so there is no reason to think in the away games we cannot also do very well.'

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