Match Preview :

Arsenal are currently in 7th spot and may lose the prospect of not playing in Europe next season if they do not finish in the top four.

They must win this match with Blackburn in order to close the gap with Liverpool and Newcastle above them. As it is now, Arsenal have picked up only one win in their last six fixtures, losing three of those games, and now sit five points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places.

Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger remains upbeat about his side's chances of retaining their seat at European football's top table, but he will be aware that they must start getting the results in the matches to come starting with the visit of Blackburn.

So far, it is the home form of the Gunners that have helped them this season, with just two defeats suffered at the Emirates so far. But their last home match was a defeat against Manchester United which ended their nine match unbeaten run in front of their own supporters.

Meanwhile, Blackburn will aim to pile the misery on Wenger and hope to improve on their survival. Rovers lost their midweek match with Newcastle going down 2-0, a result which kept them inside the drop zone and they are now two points from safety following Bolton's goalless draw with Arsenal.

Steve Kean wil be hoping of a repeat performance the last time these two sides met at Ewell Park, a game which saw 7 goals scored, with Arsenal notching up two own goals, to hand the match to Rovers by a 4-3 scoreline.

And of late Blackburn do have a better away record. They have suffered only five defeats in their last 15 games on the road, but have managed only two wins in that run.

Blackburn have problems keeping clean sheet as their last clean sheet came at The Emirates back in April 2011. And they have set a new record of failing to keep an opposing team from scoring in a 23 match run.

Team News :

Arsenal News :
Wenger is likely to make changes despite no injuries suffered against Bolton since they fired blanks in midweek.

Marouane Chamakh comes back into contention following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun will be hoping for starts.

Abou Diaby, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs remain out of the side, but Bacary Sagna came through 90 minutes against the Trotters without problems and will hope to once again start.

Jack Wilshere is another long-term absentee for the Gunners and they announced on Thursday that he has suffered a stress fracture, pushing his return even further.

Blackburn Team News :
Blackburn captain Christopher Samba will again be out of the side for this match. Manager Kean had felt the centre-back was not in the right frame of mind after having a transfer request turned down and revealed on Thursday that Samba was fit and available but would not be included in the team.

New signings Bradley Orr and Marcus Olsson - twin brother of fellow Rover Martin - could make their debuts but leading scorer Ayegbeni Yakubu serves the last of a three-match ban. David Goodwillie (flu) may miss out once again.

Possible lineups

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Walcott, Ramsey, Song, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Benayoun, Van Persie.

Blackburn Robinson, Martin Olsson, Orr, Dann, Givet, Marcus Olsson, Dunn, N'Zonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett, Modeste.

Prediction

Go for Arsenal to get back on track in their European pursuit and beat Blackburn by 2 clear goals.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Arsenal 3-1 Blackburn Rovers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Go for Arsenal to get the win.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Main Bet :
Get on Arsenal to clear the -1 1/2 goal handicap after some poor results. It is now that they get the win and start challenging for a place in Europe!