3rd may 2010: Blackburn - Arsenal

BLACKBURN
Ballardyce dissaponting after the game against Wolves is right: "We had enough chances but failed to finish them off. In this league every position is worth £750,000 and that is like a good down payment on a decent player. We want to finish as high as possible but we slipped up in allowing Ebanks-Blake a free header for the equaliser."

Team news:

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce should have four players available again.

Neither Chris Samba nor Brett Emerton travelled to Scotland this week for an end-of-season break in order to receive treatment on groin and hamstring problems respectively, but both should be fit.

El-Hadji Diouf and Vince Grella also come into contention after missing last weekend's draw at Wolves with tonsilitis and a stomach bug respectively.

Overall form: WLLDWWDDLD
Home form: LDWWWWDWDL

ARSENAL
Poor performance of the team last game: "I am not used to games like this. We created very little chances. Man City did not create anything, were highly focused on defending and gave us no space. We could not find an opener. It was a locked game of very few chances. But we did not throw everything forwards blindly, because we knew we could not afford to lose. However, we are nearly there [Champions League]. It is 90 per cent now, but not yet 100" Wenger said.

Team news:
Playmaker Andrey Arshavin remains a major doubt because of a calf problem.

Midfielder Denilson (groin) has joined William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen (both calf) and Cesc Fabregas (fractured leg) on the sidelines and will not feature again this season, while goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (wrist) is still unavailable.

Defenders Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou are back in training after long injury lay-offs, but are not expected to feature at Ewood Park.

Overall form: WWWWWDWLLD
Away form: DWWDLWWDLL

HEAD TO HEAD
13/09/2008 Blackburn 0-4 Arsenal

VERDICT
Blackburn is in a very good shape while Arsenal seem struggling also at home. The black cats already stopped Man utd and Chelsea. The odds are high enough to pick Blackburn win.