Arsenal look to maintain unbeaten home run

Arsenal have been hard hit by injuries this season and last week's 1-2 defeat at West Brom continued to underline the Gunners' misfortune. They dominated the game at the Hawthorns for long stretches.

After Saturday's upset, Arsene Wenger still refused to give up the Premiership title chase despite his side having slipped 14 points behind leaders Chelsea.

In the Champions League, away at Sparta Prague, Arsenal won 2-0 in midweek to claim their third successive victory.

Thierry Henry's double saw him edging Ian Wright as the club's all-time scorer with a total of 186.

In the domestic scene, Arsenal have lost three games in the league, all on their travels, but have won their four matches at Highbury, where they conceded only one goal.

Manchester City have lost once in four league outings on the away front. Rejuvenated Andy Cole (started his career at Highbury in 1989-90) has been given a new lease of life since his move to City at the start of this term.

In eight Premiership matches at Highbury, City only managed two draws so far.

Their manager, Stuart Pearce, has been welcomed by the game like a breath of fresh air. He has all the ingredients to go all the way and perhaps manage the national team in future. City should hold tight to their man - he can turn them into a top-six force as in the times of Joe Mercer.

Maxi Blues

Everton vs Chelsea. Chelsea persisted with their remarkable opening and now they have a maximum 27 points from nine matches.

Jose Mourinho has shown once more that he has the talent to turn a game around when his side are in arrears as he clearly highlighted last week against Bolton.

Chelsea were 0-1 down and also trailing their opponents in pitch tactics. Yet, the Blues emerged like a pack of lions in the second half and ripped Bolton apart to hit them for five without reply.

Everton are being dubbed 'a mess of Blues' as they appear heading into a dark winter.

In the Champions League, Chelsea remained bang on form to hit Real Betis for four, for a total of 13 goals in their last three matches.

Man. United vs Tottenham. Man. United look to be the best equipped side to give Chelsea a run for their money. Having won back-to-back away games, United have to improve on their latest displays at Old Trafford, where they dropped five points in their last two encounters.

Even in Europe, their home record failed to improve. This week they were held to a 0-0 draw by Lille in the Champions League.

Ryan Giggs was very unlucky to fracture a cheekbone in his 100th European appearance for the club.

The way Spurs are playing can give United a tough time. They have not lost on their travels this season in the league.

In 13 Premiership calls to Old Trafford, however, Spurs can only boast two draws.

Portsmouth vs Charlton. Charlton failed in their bid to regain the runners-up spot after they only managed to draw at home to Fulham on Monday night.

They had the privilege to watch Darren Bent and Danny Murphy pick the first two monthly awards for the season. Charlton have won all their four away games in the Premiership with an aggregate score of 9-2.

Alain Perrin remarked this week that he would enjoy working with former England boss Bobby Robson if the latter is named Director of Football at Portsmouth.

Aston Villa vs Wigan. Wigan continued with their significant displays of late, having collected another fine scalp by defeating Newcastle at their JJB Stadium.

Manager Paul Jewell is walking high, watching his gems sparkle after Wigan were billed as relegation contenders in the pre-season placing by the critics of the game.

Villa were jumping for joy after their first win against their neighbours Birmingham in the Premiership last weekend.

Fulham vs Liverpool. After chalking up their second Premiership win of the season against Blackburn, the Reds travelled to Brussels to tackle Anderlecht in the Champions League and registered another victory, 1-0.

Having seen Djibril Cisse scoring in consecutive games, Rafael Benitez will be hoping that he can continue in this vein.

The Cottagers have won only once at home in four league matches (1-0 vs Everton). Yet, they looked happy to earn a point at high-flying Charlton in their last outing.

Bolton vs West Brom. West Brom were very irate at FIFA president Sepp Blatter's claims that the club fielded weakened teams against the top sides.

Blatter alleged an Albion official had told him recently that they do not field their best line-up against the top sides in the league because they know they were going to lose. For the first time last week, West Brom came from behind to win a Premiership game in the 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Sam Allardyce, whose Wanderers were crushed by Chelsea, accused Wenger of conning everybody into believing Arsenal always played attacking football. In the UEFA Cup on Thursday, Bolton drew 1-1 with Besiktas.

Newcastle vs Sunderland. The Toon have suffered their first defeat after the signing of Michael Owen against newcomers Wigan and went through the second successive match without a goal.

Tomorrow they will seek to return to winning form against their arch-rivals from the north-east.

Bold Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy stated that he would not change his attacking perceptions in an effort to secure survival.

The last time they met in the Premiership in 2002-03, Newcastle made the double on Sunderland, winning 1-0 at home and 2-0 away.

West Ham vs Middlesbrough. The Hammers have started to stutter, having failed to win in their last three matches. Middlesbrough had also disappointed at home to Portsmouth (1-1) and they have now won once in four league games.

The Londoners have claimed wins in their last three Premiership games against Boro at Upton Park by the identical scoreline of 1-0.

The Teessiders beat Grasshoppers 1-0 away in the UEFA Cup.

Blackburn vs Birmingham. Two former Manchester United stalwarts, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce, now coaches of Rovers and City respectively, will be keen to watch their side winning this one after both finished on the losing end in their previous encounter.

In the only three occasions this duo met in the Premiership at Ewood Park, they were involved in draws: 3-3, 1-1, 1-1.

Microsoft... Wembley sponsor

Software giant Microsoft have signed a five-year, seven-figure sponsorship deal with Wembley, the stadium's management said.

Bill Gates's company has agreed to become the ground's first "founding partner" and to support the stadium in its final stage of construction and for the first four years of its operational life.

Neither party would comment on the exact cost of the deal, but Wembley said it was a "seven-figure-sum". Media reports put the figure at five million pounds.

The 90,000-seater stadium is due to open in 2006 when it is expected to stage the English FA Cup final.