Despite their scintillating form in the Premiership, Arsenal are facing another early exit from Europe's premier competition if they fail to claim all three points against the on-form Italians on Tuesday.

Still unbeaten in their domestic trials, Arsenal's 13th consecutive victory on Saturday represented the best league start of any team since the Premiership was launched in 1992-93.

But while Wenger's team look set to challenge for another domestic title, they regularly limp off Europe's biggest club stage.

A daunting task lies ahead, especially as Inter - who humiliated Arsenal 3-0 at Highbury in September - will book their place in the last 16 if they win.

Inter's 6-0 rout of Reggina on Saturday - with all goals coming from different players - is proof of their strength in depth.

"I am starting to see the right spirit," said Zaccheroni after his third win since replacing the sacked Hector Cuper last month.

Super-striker Christian Vieri could snuff out Arsenal's troubled Champions League campaign and Zaccheroni wants him to do it with a smile on his face.

On Saturday, Vieri was among the scorers after the coach used a little mental coaxing to spur on the unhappy striker.

"I encouraged him at half-time," said Zaccheroni. "I told him he wouldnt be substituted, not even if he asked. That reassured him and he played a great second half."

Before the match, Zaccheroni tried to address the puzzling question of why Vieri has seemingly lost his taste for scoring.

"I like players to smile and look happy after they score a goal," Zaccheroni said.

"If Vieri celebrated his next goal extravagantly, by taking his shirt off or making a similar gesture, I'm convinced that it would help us."

But Vieri has been booed by Inter fans after an inconsistent season and after knocking in the sixth goal against Reggina, he ignored Zaccheroni's advice and sarcastically applauded the spectators.

That aside, the new coach has undoubtedly changed the atmosphere at the club after the authoritarian regime of Cuper.

Inter wing-back Francesco Coco said: "Since Zaccheroni arrived he has brought liveliness, enthusiasm and an added motivation.

"It is always like that when the manager changes, but Zaccheroni has a winning mentality that he is trying to pass on to us.

"We believe we can get back to the higher echelons of the league in a short time, because we don't feel inferior to anyone."

Wenger vowed his side will be ready.

"When I look back every game has been difficult and the team have shown remarkable strength and been focused in every match," he said.

"There is a kind of strength about this team when they are in trouble and I am very proud of them."

In Group A German champions Bayern Munich face Celtic in Glasgow knowing that anything less than a point could spell disaster.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's side laboured to a 1-0 win at the weekend over 1860 Munich and face an on-form Celtic side who are keen to get a win under their belt to secure their first appearance in the knockout phase.

Like Inter, Celtic are knocking in the goals for fun in the league - and a 5-1 rout of Dundee United on Saturday, thanks to a Chis Sutton hat-trick and a double from Henrik Larsson, solved Martin O'Neill's dilemma of who to play up front against the German champions.

Celtic's UEFA Cup final appearance last season has proven their European pedigree but midfielder Neil Lennon believes the Glasgow giants can outdo that achievement.

"If we were to make it through the group stages it would be as big as anything we have achieved as a team - and I include getting to the UEFA Cup final.

"This is the platform that you want to be judged on."

Bayern are set to be without Sebastian Deisler, Mehmet Scholl and Alexander Zickler, while Ze Robeto returned from Brazil duty with a bad back.

Like Arsenal, defeat for Bayern would prove disastrous - as general manager Uli Hoeness admits.

"Crashing out of the competition so early on again would be fatal," said Hoeness. "Glasgow will be a heated encounter and we need at least a point."

Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn added: "We know it is a vital game for us. A good horse jumps highest when it needs to. We are Bayern and we're going to Glasgow looking to win."

In other matches Group A leaders Lyon travel to bottom team Anderlecht knowing that a win will see them through to the next phase.

Lokomotiv Moscow will be hoping for home advantage to help them relaunch their bid to stay in the competition when they host Dynamo Kiev, who are second in Group B.

In Group C, Monaco seek to build on their Champions League record 8-3 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna when they host PSV Eindhoven. A victory would secure Monaco's appearance in the knockout phase.

Deportivo La Coruna, who sit second behind the on-form French league leaders, are favourites to get back in contention with full points at home against AEK Athens.

Juventus' Group D match against Galatasaray has been postponed until December 2 in the wake of last week's bombings in Istanbul.