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Arsenal v Blackburn
Emirates Stadium
Monday, 11 February
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Five Live
Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini hopes to shrug off a thigh injury.
Winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) could return but striker Robin van Persie (thigh) and defender Johan Djourou (groin) are still not match-fit.
Blackburn have Christopher Samba, David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen banned, while Ryan Nelsen and Andre Ooijer (both hamstring) are doubts.
Aaron Mokoena could be available after Africa Cup of Nations duty and Steven Reid hopes to overcome a knee injury.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo, Lehmann, Bendtner, Traore, Walcott, J Hoyte, Rosicky, Gilberto.
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Derbyshire, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts, Berner, Olsson, Rigters, Treacy, Tugay, Brown, Mokoena.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We are where we want to be after 25 games and we are now going into the final sprint.
"We made a little difference last week by getting back to the top, but that is not significant enough to say we will be in front (at the end of the season.
"But I am confident this team has mental strength and desire - they are good ingredients to go on and continue to play well."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:
"We have caused them problems over the years but we'll have to work exceptionally hard because they are an outstanding team. "They can get frustrated if you work hard and try to deny them their little passing movements.
"We've got to give ourselves the chance to win. It is up to us to make sure we don't make it too hard for ourselves."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal returned to the top of the table after a two-week absence following victory at Manchester City last Saturday, but they could well find themselves back in second spot by the time this Monday night match kicks off.
The Gunners have won 11 league matches at the Emirates alone this season - that's more than Blackburn have mustered both home and away.
Blackburn go into the 100th league clash with Arsenal, trailing their north London opponents by 21 points, but still with aspirations of a highest placed finish since winning the title 13 years ago.
Rovers enter this set of Premier League fixtures fourth in the "Form" table.
Mark Hughes's side have only won one of their last 10 Premier League matches in London; 1-2 against Tottenham on 28 October last year.
The Gunners are pursuing a fifth successive home Premier League victory over Rovers. They've scored 12 goals in the last three, including last season's 6-2 drubbing.
CLUB FORM
ARSENAL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Aiming to add the scalp of Blackburn to those of Fulham (a), Newcastle (h) and Manchester City (a), gained in their last three Premier League matches.
2. Unbeaten in nine Premier League games; won seven and drawn two since losing 2-1, away to Middlesbrough on 9 December.
3. Lost fewer Premier League matches than any other club (one).
4. Won 18 Premier League matches; only Manchester United match that. Also, dropped fewer points in the highest league than any other club (15) - United have dropped 17.
5. Top Premier League scorers with 52 goals, at one every 43 minutes on average.
6. Beaten Fulham (h), Tottenham (a), Aston Villa (a) and Everton (a) from losing positions; picked up 14 points from games in which they were trailing.
7. Portsmouth are the only club to have prevented them from scoring in a Premier League game this season; 0-0, away on Boxing Day.
8. One of three clubs defending an unbeaten home record in the Premier League. Completed 17 league games at the Emirates without defeat; won 11 and drawn two this season, and won 14 and drawn three since the 0-1 reverse to West Ham on 7 April.
9. Lost one of 47 matches staged at the Emirates Stadium (all competitions).
10. Following this is the outstanding fifth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a Champions League clash, home to AC Milan, and two league fixtures against Midlands' clubs; away to Birmingham and home to Aston Villa.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Drawn their last three matches, all in the Premier League; 1-1, home to Middlesbrough, 1-1, away to Aston Villa, and 0-0, home to Everton. They won the previous three, to earn 12 points from a possible 18 and stand fourth in the Premier League's "Last Six Current Form" table behind Arsenal and Chelsea (16 points each), and Manchester United (13).
2. Unbeaten in seven Premier League matches; won three and drawn four since losing 0-1, home to Chelsea on 23 December.
3. One loss short of 900 post war league defeats.
4. Opened the scoring in a mere eight Premier League matches; only Derby have netted the first goal less often (seven times). Not lost any of the league games in which they've taken the lead from the outset; won six and drawn two of eight.
5. Gone in at half-time trailing in 10 Premier League matches; only Derby and Reading (13 each) have been behind at the interval more often.
6. Like Arsenal, won four Premier League matches from losing positions; beat Tottenham (a), Newcastle (h), Derby (a) and Bolton (a). No other clubs have won more games in which they were trailing. Also, gained 16 Premier League points when losing; more than any other club.
7. For the second season running, own the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League with 56 cards shown (five red, 51 yellow). Only Chelsea and Fulham have also had as many as five players sent off in the Premier League so far this season.
8. Fielded fewer players than any other club in Premier League competition this season, with the exception of Aston Villa (21 each).
9. Lost just two away league games this season (to Manchester United and Wigan).
10. A Lancashire derby follows this, against Bolton at Ewood Park, before a trip to Newcastle and two more fixtures against London opposition; home to Fulham and away to West Ham.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ARSENAL
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is Arsenal's top scorer with 21 goals, the second highest marksman in the Premier League with 18.
The 23 year old Togo international has scored 11 goals in his last eight appearances for Arsenal.
If selected:- William GALLAS will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance (Chelsea and Arsenal).
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Roque SANTA CRUZ is Blackburn's top scorer with 15 goals, and the club's leading Premier League marksman with 11. Brad FRIEDEL has made 139 successive Premier League appearances for Blackburn, since the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
Only FRIEDEL has played every minute of every one of Blackburn's league and cup matches this season. David DUNN is a hat-trick shy of 50 club career goals.
If selected:- TUGAY Kerimoglu will be making his 200th Premier League appearance for Blackburn.
HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal and Blackburn are meeting for the third time this season. The reverse league fixture was drawn, and the Gunners ended odd goal in five victors in the Carling Cup quarter-final at Ewood Park with a winner from Eduardo in extra time.
Blackburn have not claimed three points against Arsenal in north London since their 1-2 triumph on 26 October 2002 when Gunners midfielder Edu scored for both sides and Dwight Yorke got the winner.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Arsenal 46 wins, Blackburn 24, Draws 29
Prem: Arsenal 13 wins, Blackburn 7, Draws 7
at Arsenal only
League (inc PL): Arsenal 27 wins, Blackburn 8, Draws 14
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Blackburn 3, Draws 4
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn Rovers
23 December 2006 - Ref: Howard Webb
Arsenal scorers: Silva 10, Hleb 23, Adebayor 27 pen, Van Persie 85, 88, Flamini 90
Blackburn scorers: Nonda 3 pen, 69
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Arsenal
19 August 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Blackburn scorer: Dunn 72
Arsenal scorer: Van Persie 18
Sent Off: Nelsen (Blackburn) 84 R
REFEREE Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
Emirates Stadium
Monday, 11 February
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Five Live
Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini hopes to shrug off a thigh injury.
Winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) could return but striker Robin van Persie (thigh) and defender Johan Djourou (groin) are still not match-fit.
Blackburn have Christopher Samba, David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen banned, while Ryan Nelsen and Andre Ooijer (both hamstring) are doubts.
Aaron Mokoena could be available after Africa Cup of Nations duty and Steven Reid hopes to overcome a knee injury.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo, Lehmann, Bendtner, Traore, Walcott, J Hoyte, Rosicky, Gilberto.
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Derbyshire, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts, Berner, Olsson, Rigters, Treacy, Tugay, Brown, Mokoena.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We are where we want to be after 25 games and we are now going into the final sprint.
"We made a little difference last week by getting back to the top, but that is not significant enough to say we will be in front (at the end of the season.
"But I am confident this team has mental strength and desire - they are good ingredients to go on and continue to play well."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:
"We have caused them problems over the years but we'll have to work exceptionally hard because they are an outstanding team. "They can get frustrated if you work hard and try to deny them their little passing movements.
"We've got to give ourselves the chance to win. It is up to us to make sure we don't make it too hard for ourselves."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal returned to the top of the table after a two-week absence following victory at Manchester City last Saturday, but they could well find themselves back in second spot by the time this Monday night match kicks off.
The Gunners have won 11 league matches at the Emirates alone this season - that's more than Blackburn have mustered both home and away.
Blackburn go into the 100th league clash with Arsenal, trailing their north London opponents by 21 points, but still with aspirations of a highest placed finish since winning the title 13 years ago.
Rovers enter this set of Premier League fixtures fourth in the "Form" table.
Mark Hughes's side have only won one of their last 10 Premier League matches in London; 1-2 against Tottenham on 28 October last year.
The Gunners are pursuing a fifth successive home Premier League victory over Rovers. They've scored 12 goals in the last three, including last season's 6-2 drubbing.
CLUB FORM
ARSENAL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Aiming to add the scalp of Blackburn to those of Fulham (a), Newcastle (h) and Manchester City (a), gained in their last three Premier League matches.
2. Unbeaten in nine Premier League games; won seven and drawn two since losing 2-1, away to Middlesbrough on 9 December.
3. Lost fewer Premier League matches than any other club (one).
4. Won 18 Premier League matches; only Manchester United match that. Also, dropped fewer points in the highest league than any other club (15) - United have dropped 17.
5. Top Premier League scorers with 52 goals, at one every 43 minutes on average.
6. Beaten Fulham (h), Tottenham (a), Aston Villa (a) and Everton (a) from losing positions; picked up 14 points from games in which they were trailing.
7. Portsmouth are the only club to have prevented them from scoring in a Premier League game this season; 0-0, away on Boxing Day.
8. One of three clubs defending an unbeaten home record in the Premier League. Completed 17 league games at the Emirates without defeat; won 11 and drawn two this season, and won 14 and drawn three since the 0-1 reverse to West Ham on 7 April.
9. Lost one of 47 matches staged at the Emirates Stadium (all competitions).
10. Following this is the outstanding fifth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a Champions League clash, home to AC Milan, and two league fixtures against Midlands' clubs; away to Birmingham and home to Aston Villa.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Drawn their last three matches, all in the Premier League; 1-1, home to Middlesbrough, 1-1, away to Aston Villa, and 0-0, home to Everton. They won the previous three, to earn 12 points from a possible 18 and stand fourth in the Premier League's "Last Six Current Form" table behind Arsenal and Chelsea (16 points each), and Manchester United (13).
2. Unbeaten in seven Premier League matches; won three and drawn four since losing 0-1, home to Chelsea on 23 December.
3. One loss short of 900 post war league defeats.
4. Opened the scoring in a mere eight Premier League matches; only Derby have netted the first goal less often (seven times). Not lost any of the league games in which they've taken the lead from the outset; won six and drawn two of eight.
5. Gone in at half-time trailing in 10 Premier League matches; only Derby and Reading (13 each) have been behind at the interval more often.
6. Like Arsenal, won four Premier League matches from losing positions; beat Tottenham (a), Newcastle (h), Derby (a) and Bolton (a). No other clubs have won more games in which they were trailing. Also, gained 16 Premier League points when losing; more than any other club.
7. For the second season running, own the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League with 56 cards shown (five red, 51 yellow). Only Chelsea and Fulham have also had as many as five players sent off in the Premier League so far this season.
8. Fielded fewer players than any other club in Premier League competition this season, with the exception of Aston Villa (21 each).
9. Lost just two away league games this season (to Manchester United and Wigan).
10. A Lancashire derby follows this, against Bolton at Ewood Park, before a trip to Newcastle and two more fixtures against London opposition; home to Fulham and away to West Ham.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ARSENAL
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is Arsenal's top scorer with 21 goals, the second highest marksman in the Premier League with 18.
The 23 year old Togo international has scored 11 goals in his last eight appearances for Arsenal.
If selected:- William GALLAS will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance (Chelsea and Arsenal).
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Roque SANTA CRUZ is Blackburn's top scorer with 15 goals, and the club's leading Premier League marksman with 11. Brad FRIEDEL has made 139 successive Premier League appearances for Blackburn, since the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
Only FRIEDEL has played every minute of every one of Blackburn's league and cup matches this season. David DUNN is a hat-trick shy of 50 club career goals.
If selected:- TUGAY Kerimoglu will be making his 200th Premier League appearance for Blackburn.
HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal and Blackburn are meeting for the third time this season. The reverse league fixture was drawn, and the Gunners ended odd goal in five victors in the Carling Cup quarter-final at Ewood Park with a winner from Eduardo in extra time.
Blackburn have not claimed three points against Arsenal in north London since their 1-2 triumph on 26 October 2002 when Gunners midfielder Edu scored for both sides and Dwight Yorke got the winner.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Arsenal 46 wins, Blackburn 24, Draws 29
Prem: Arsenal 13 wins, Blackburn 7, Draws 7
at Arsenal only
League (inc PL): Arsenal 27 wins, Blackburn 8, Draws 14
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Blackburn 3, Draws 4
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn Rovers
23 December 2006 - Ref: Howard Webb
Arsenal scorers: Silva 10, Hleb 23, Adebayor 27 pen, Van Persie 85, 88, Flamini 90
Blackburn scorers: Nonda 3 pen, 69
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Arsenal
19 August 2007 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Blackburn scorer: Dunn 72
Arsenal scorer: Van Persie 18
Sent Off: Nelsen (Blackburn) 84 R
REFEREE Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
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