Arsenal's young Irish striker, Graham Barrett, is set for his second start of the season when the Gunners meet Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League next week.

Arsenal - already qualified for the next stage - have confirmed with UEFA that they will incur no penalty for resting some of their senior stars in the game.

That leaves Arsene Wenger clear to start the u21 international in place of Thierry Henry, Kanu or Denis Bergkamp.

Barrett made his seasonal debut during the week, in the 2-1 Worthington Cup defeat to Ipswich, having first broken into the Gunners' first team as an 18-year-old at the tail end of last season.

But the Shakhtar game will probably be Barrett's last in Arsenal colours for some time. The club want to farm the youngster out on loan so that he can gain first-team experience.

"I think it will happen over the next few months," the Dubliner said. "You need first-team experience.

"You'd like to be in the Premiership as quickly as you can, but you've just go to take your time with these things and not rush them."