Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger put his side through a last-ditch training session on Tuesday morning before they fly out to Turkey for their Champions League play-off with Fenerbahce.
The club have come under intense criticism after the opening-day 3-1 loss against Aston Villa, with Wenger seemingly reluctant to spend big transfer fees despite being linked with players and the squad in desperate need of an overhaul.
However, The Gunners boss was handed an number of fitness boosts, with Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky all training.
Striped affair: Manager Arsene Wenger (centre) addresses his garishly-dressed team in training
Under fire: Wenger (left) has come under intense criticism after his side's 3-1 loss against Aston Villa
Fighting fit: Olivier Giroud (left) and Laurent Koscielny (centre) lead Arsenal's players on a light jog
There had been fears over the fitness of those individuals, especially full-back Sagna who landed awkwardly towards the end of the game on Saturday, but they could all play some part in Turkey as Arsenal look to seal a place in the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.
However, England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out for a while because of a knee injury, Wenger has confirmed.
The 20-year-old - who has become a key part of Roy Hodgson’s squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers - limped out of the defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day of the new Barclays Premier League season and reports have suggested he could be set for up to six months on the sidelines.
'The difference from Saturday is that Oxlade-Chamberlain is out for a while with a knee problem,' Wenger said on Arsenal Player.
Sidelines: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be out for up to six months with a knee injury
'Everybody else should make it. There’s a final decision (on Wednesday) but Sagna and Gibbs should be available,' said Wenger. 'Nacho Monreal is back and will travel.'
The players wore a garish training kit, complete with blue-and-yellow stripes in a combination reminscent of kids' TV favourite Bananaman.
One addition that could come to fruition is a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
The Spain captain is known to be unsettled at the Bernabeu after losing his automatic place in the first team under Jose Mourinho and the Gunners are keeping a close eye on his situation. He would replace Wojciech Szczesny, who continued his error-prone run against Villa.
What's going on? Jack Wilshere stretches as Arsenal prepare for the crucial play-off clash
Talking tactics: Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould (centre right) look on as the team train
England expects: Jack Wilshere concentrates as he plays a pass to team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong
Asked if the clashes against Fenerbahce were the most important games of the season, Wenger replied: 'Yes of course. We fought very hard last season to be in the top four and that game has a vital importance.
'It is a consequence of what we tried to achieve last season and therefore, on the back of our defeat against Aston Villa, it’s important as well to bounce back straight away.
'To be part of the top level - that is for us the most important thing. All the rest are the consequences of it. When you are a football player, you want to play at the top level and that’s what the Champions League is about.'
Arsenal defeated Bayern Munich away last season, with the Germans going on to win the tournament, and in the 2008/2009 campaign the Gunners beat Fenerbahce 5-2, which ended the Turkish side’s impressive 15-match unbeaten home run in Europe.
Wenger said: 'We try to win everywhere we go. That is the only target we have to set ourselves.
“We respect Fenerbahce highly but in the history of our club we have gone everywhere, all over, and always had a desire to win and that is what we will do again.'
“We respect Fenerbahce highly but in the history of our club we have gone everywhere, all over, and always had a desire to win and that is what we will do again.'
Through the paces: Arsenal must beat Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-off to reach the group stage
Down to the bare bones: Yaya Sanogo (right) and Carl Jenkinson join in training
In full flight? Theo Walcott (left) gets his shooting boots on as Aaron Ramsey warms up
If Arsenal do reach the group stages there will be even more calls for new faces in north London, after a bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye was rejected on Monday.
The move for the France international is the latest failed transfer attempt during a frustrating summer for Wenger, who has also looked at signing the likes of Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain with no success to date.
The home fans were vocal during the Villa game in their suggestions that new players are required, with Arsenal believed to have enough funds available to try and attract marquee names such as Rooney or Suarez.
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