Arsenal Vs. Blackburn

Emirates Stadium

Saturday, 23 December

Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Arsenal midfield duo Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are back in contention after injury but Emmanuel Eboue is out.

An ankle problem means the full-back joins William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungburg on the sidelines.

Blackburn's top scorer Benni McCarthy will miss the trip to the capital through suspension.

Stephane Henchoz is back after a ban, Zurab Khizanishvili and Brett Emerton could also come into contention after injury but Aaron Mokoena is doubtful.

Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Walcott, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb, Adebayor, van Persie, Almunia, Rosicky, Senderos, Baptista, Flamini, Aliadiere, Song.

Blackburn (from): Freidel, Neill, Todd, Ooijer, Henchoz, Khizanishvili, Gray, McEveley, Emerton, Bentley, Tugay, Savage, Mokoena, Pedersen, Nonda, Derbyshire, Gallagher, Brown, Peter.

Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb:"We should have won more games because we created so many chances, but have just not been able to put the ball in the net.

"In fact we have been doing everything but score in some games. Often we have given away silly goals and then it becomes difficult when the opponents sit behind the ball.

"We have to concentrate better, and of course take our own chances."

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:"They seem to have had a little bit of a problem initially in the first few months of the move to the new stadium.

"They've had some good results, but others where they have had to come back on level terms.

"So there is a little bit of encouragement for us, but you have to accept they're a team of high quality."

BIG-MATCH FACTS

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger had little Christmas cheer for referee Steve Bennett at half time of last Saturday's game with Portsmouth. The Gunners were made to fight hard for the point against Pompey to retain their unbeaten record at the Emirates. Now they take on fifth bottom Blackburn aiming to stretch the undefeated sequence at their new home to 10 Premiership games.

The North Londoners had an unwanted night off, when their Carling Cup quarter-final with Liverpool was postponed on Tuesday, because of fog.

They are one place and one point behind the third placed Merseysiders in a compact Premiership table, where three points cover five clubs, all with an eye on the two Champions League qualifying spots.

Arsenal will want a substantial return from the holiday programme that takes in a Boxing Day visit to Watford, a trip to Sheffield United next Saturday and a home clash with Charlton on Tuesday week.

The Gunners are looking for a 50th competitive victory over Blackburn. They won this corresponding fixture 3-0 last season, when Thierry Henry became the first player to score 100 League goals at Highbury.

BLACKBURN ROVERS were sliding alarmingly down the table, before picking up only their second away win of the season at Reading last Saturday.

They travel to the capital with sights set on completing back-to-back wins for the first time in 10 Premiership outings, but knowing that defeat coupled with victories for Middlesbrough (home to Charlton) and West Ham (away to Fulham) would see Rovers spending Christmas Day in the relegation zone.

The Ewood Park club have some tough fixtures over the holiday period, and will need to be at their best if they're to stay clear of trouble.

They host Liverpool on Boxing Day and Middlesbrough four days later, before making the short trip to Wigan on New Years Day.

Rovers have lost their last three League visits to Arsenal, without scoring a single goal.

REFEREE

Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

Premiership referees' table
Howard Webb's 2006-07 Premiership card count

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ARSENAL

Club stats

Fixtures

4th 30 points

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd

Lowest could fall: 7th

1. Undefeated in five in League and Cup.

2. Won two and drawn two of the last four Premiership fixtures, since losing 2-1 at Fulham on

29 November.

3. One of three remaining clubs with an unbeaten home Premiership record. The others are

Chelsea and Liverpool.

4. Not lost in 23 League and Cup matches on home soil - 16 of which were top flight games. Won nine and drawn seven in front of their home fans since losing 2-3 to West Ham at Highbury on 1

February.

5. On the Premiership's longest run since a goalless draw of 36 games.

6. The current tally of 30 points from 18 games is Arsenal's lowest return to this same stage in eight Premiership seasons.

7. Holding a 100% Premiership record when keeping clean sheets (won seven of seven).

8. Scored in each of the last eight League games and failed to score in one of 16. Missed the target in only two Premiership matches this season.

9. Gained eight Premiership points from losing positions. Only Aston Villa can match that. The Gunners showed their resilience by trailing, then winning at Charlton. and drawing home to

Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Everton, Newcastle and Portsmouth.

10. Scored 18 home League goals - only Manchester United can beat that (20).

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Club stats

Fixtures

16th 19 points

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th

Lowest could fall: 18th

1. Won the last two in League and Cup.

2. Not managed successive top tier victories since 1 October, when they completed three wins on the bounce against Manchester City (h), Middlesbrough (a) and Wigan (h).

3. Lost six of nine Premiership matches, included two of the last three.

4. Kept just one clean sheet in 11 League outings (2-0, home to Fulham on 2 February).

5. Kept only three clean sheets in this Premiership campaign. All other clubs have managed more, with the exception of Fulham and West Ham, who've also kept three each.

6. Beaten only Middlesbrough and Reading on the road so far in this League season.

7. Won one of the last five matches on their Premiership travels.

8. Failed to score in half their away League games this term (four of eight).

9. Picked up more cards in top flight matches than any other club this season (41). They've been shown three reds and 38 yellow - discounting Andy Todd's sending off which was later rescinded.

10. Conceded more penalties in Premiership matches this season than any other club (seven).

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

ARSENAL

Squad profiles

Thierry HENRY and Robin VAN PERSIE are Arsenal's joint top scorers with seven goals each.

HENRY leads the way for the club in the Premiership with six goals.

VAN PERSIE has scored four goals in his last three League and Cup appearances against Blackburn.

When next involved, HENRY will be making his 250th Premiership appearance. He'll become the seventh foreign player and the second Frenchman to reach such a milestone. The other also wore an Arsenal shirt, Patrick Vieira.

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Squad profiles

Benni McCARTHY is Blackburn's leading scorer with nine goals - six in the Premiership.

Brad FRIEDEL, McCARTHY and David BENTLEY are the only remaining players to have started all of Blackburn's Premiership matches this season.

BENTLEY began his professional career with Arsenal.

Francis JEFFERS was on Arsenal's books for three seasons from June 2001. He made 39 appearances for the Gunners, scoring eight goals (22 appearances and four goals in the Premiership).

If he takes the field, James McEVELEY will be making his 50th career League appearance (Blackburn, Burnley, Gillingham and Ipswich).

If involved, Aaron MOKOENA will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for Rovers.
Suspended: Benni McCARTHY

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn Rovers26 November 2005 - Ref: Chris FoyArsenal scorers: Fabregas 4, Henry 45, Van Persie 90

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and awayLeague: Arsenal 44 wins, Blackburn 24, Draws 28Prem: Arsenal 11 wins, Blackburn 7, Draws 6

at Arsenal onlyLeague: Arsenal 26 wins, Blackburn 8, Draws 14Prem: Arsenal 5 wins, Blackburn 3, Draws 4