Charlton v Arsenal

The Valley
Saturday, 30 September
Kick-off: 1500 BST

Andy Reid is in line for a return to the Charlton side to ease the injury crisis at the Valley.

Jerome Thomas, Souleymane Diawara and Omar Pouso are poised to return to training, while Jonathan Fortune (toe) and Gonzalo Sorondo remain sidelined.

Arsenal defender William Gallas will have a fitness test on his hamstring ahead of his side's trip to The Valley.

Johan Djourou (foot) is also a concern and a decision will be made as late as possible, so Justin Hoyte stands by.

Charlton (from): Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Fortune, Rommedahl, Kishishev, Faye, Ambrose, Reid, Holland, M Bent, D Bent, Hasselbaink, Holland, Ashton, Myhre, Sankofa, John, Walker, Lisbie.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Hoyte, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Baptista, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Van Persie, Flamini, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Walcott, Song, Henry.

Charlton manager Iain Dowie:"We will have to be very resilient. It is a myth that you can bully Arsenal - but you have got to get close to them.

"If you stand off and allow Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky or Alexander Hleb time they will pick out a pass.
"We have to attack them when we get the opportunity. Arsenal are not unbeatable, but you have to win enough of the one-on-one individual battles."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:"I am like the players, I am only good if I win the next day.
"For me what is important is not what I have done.

"Maybe I will reflect on it one day, when I stop work - but at the moment what is important for me is to win at Charlton."

BIG-MATCH FACTS

CHARLTON ATHLETIC take on Arsenal in their third London derby of the season, looking to avoid a fourth successive Premiership defeat against a side whose midweek Champions League victory over FC Porto was their fourth win in a row.

Iain Dowie has overseen the Addicks' worst start in Premiership history with five defeats from six matches, and a loss here, coupled with three points for Sheffield United home to Middlesbrough, would see Charlton at the foot of the table.

The Addicks have lost their last five Premiership matches with Arsenal, and have not beaten them since a 2-4 success at Highbury on 4 November 2001. Their only home win in this League, against the Gunners, was 1-0 on New Years Day 2001 when Jonatan Johansson scored the winner.

ARSENAL set out on an 11th year with Arsene Wenger at the helm, having hit form after an inauspicious opening. They aim to make Charlton their third Premiership victims on the bounce in the wake of the 0-1 win at Manchester United and 3-0 trouncing of Sheffield United - their biggest margin of victory to date in this League season.

Eight points from five matches is Arsenal's worst start in six seasons. They go into their 550th Premiership fixture and 275th away from home, looking to score in the first half of a League game for the first time this season.

The Gunners travel in search of a fifth win in six Premiership visits to Charlton, and a third in a row. Arsenal are unbeaten in nine against Charlton, winning eight of them.

REFEREE

Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Premiership referees' table

Mark Clattenburg's 2006-07 Premiership card count

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Club stats

Fixtures 19th 3 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 14th Lowest could fall:

BOTTOM

1. Last lost more than three Premiership matches in succession between 29 October and 4 December when defeated in five consecutive games.

2. Lost more Premiership matches this season than any other club - five.

3. Iain Dowie is searching for his third win in all competitions as Charlton manager, and second in the League.

4. Victory would be Charlton's 1,200th in their League history.

5. Won one of the last nine Premiership matches (2-0 against Bolton in their last home match on 26 August), and lost the other eight.

6. Managed one clean sheet in 11 League games.

7. Conceded more goals in the highest echelon than any other club - eleven. On average that is one every 49 minutes.

8. Nine of the 11 League goals shipped have been conceded in the second half and two of those in stoppage time. That's more than any other club on both counts.

9. Lost both London Premiership derbies this season (3-1 away to West Ham, and 2-1, away to Chelsea). Not won a League capital derby in 2006. Drawn two and lost five, since beating West Ham 2-0 at home on 31 December 2005.

10. Iain Dowie is the second shortest-serving current Premiership manager behind Martin O'Neill of Aston Villa. Dowie was appointed on 30 May 2006.

ARSENAL

Club stats

Fixtures 9th 8 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7thLowest could realistically fall: 10th

1. Ended last season with three Premiership victories on the bounce.

2. Won the last four in all competitions against Hamburg (CL), Manchester United (PL), Sheffield United (PL) and Porto (CL).

3. Lost only one of nine League and Cup games this term (1-0 at Manchester City on 26 August).

4. Completed 23 Premiership matches since a goalless draw (0-0 v Manchester United at Highbury on 3 January).

5. Ten different scorers have netted 15 goals in Champions League and Premiership matches to date this season.

6. Won both Premiership matches in which they have scored first.

7. Won four, drawn three and lost three London Premiership derbies last season.

8. Won two and drawn one Premier League capital derbies since losing 2-3, home to West Ham on 1 February.

9. Arsene Wenger is the second longest-serving manager of a Premiership club, behind Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. Wenger was appointed 28 September 1996.

10. Used fewer players in Premiership matches than any other club, with the exception of Bolton. Both have fielded 17.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Squad profiles

Jerome THOMAS began his professional career with Arsenal.

DARREN BENT has scored four of Charlton's five goals so far this season - three of the four in the Premiership. Jimmy Floyd HASSELBAINK got the other.

MARCUS BENT is a hat-trick short of 100 club career goals.

ARSENAL

Squad profiles

Thierry HENRY has scored 11 goals in 11 meetings with Charlton.

If he plays, Alexander HLEB will be making his 50th appearance for Arsenal.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Charlton Athletic 0-1 Arsenal26 December 2005 - Ref: Steve BennettArsenal scorers: Reyes 58Sent Off: Murphy (Charlton) 72

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and awayLeague: Charlton 9 wins, Arsenal 30, Draws 11Prem: Charlton 2 wins, Arsenal 10, Draws 2

at Charlton onlyLeague: Charlton 4 wins, Arsenal 15, Draws 6Prem: Charlton 1 win, Arsenal 5, Draws 1

From : BBC Sports