vs
Arsenal v Charlton
Athletic
ARSENAL return to the Emirates to face relegation
battlers Charlton looking to erase the disappointment of Saturday's
single goal defeat at Sheffield United with the clubs' 300th
victory in Premier League history. Three points would see the
Gunners climbing back into fourth, at the expense of Bolton. They
go into the game 18 points behind Manchester United, 11 behind
Chelsea and four short of third placed Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger's side thrashed Blackburn 6-2 in their last match at
the Emirates on the Saturday before Christmas. It took their
undefeated run to 24 in League and Cup matches in front of the home
supporters - 17 in the Premiership. The Gunners have won 10 and
drawn seven at home since losing 2-3 to West Ham at Highbury on 1
February. Of those, five wins and five draws have been notched in
an unbeaten 10-match League sequence at their new home.
The Gunners are hoping to extend a 10-match undefeated Premiership
record against Charlton. They've won their last six, including the
reverse fixture in September when a wonder strike from Robin van
Persie set the foundation for a 2-1 victory. A fifth successive
home maximum over the Addicks would complete a fourth Premiership
'double' over them and third in successive seasons.
Robin VAN PERSIE is Arsenal's top scorer with 10 goals - eight in
the Premiership.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC have played two home games since
the appointment of manager Alan Pardew. In the first they had two
points stolen from them by Fulham in the dying moments, in a 2-2
draw. Then on Saturday, they snatched two points from Aston Villa
in winning 2-1 with Bryan Hughes' injury time goal. If Charlton can
conjure up another victory, it would see them leapfrogging West Ham
in the relegation zone - just three weeks after Pardew was sacked
by the Hammers. But the Addicks would have to become the first club
ever to win at the Emirates, with their first away triumph of the
campaign, if Pardew is to taste what would surely be an extremely
sweet victory.
While Arsenal have won two, drawn one and lost two London
Premiership derbies so far this season, Charlton are yet to claim a
victory - drawing one, and losing five of their six capital
clashes. They're also suffered the longest winless sequence away
from home of any club in the highest League picking up just five
points from a last possible 72 on the road since the 1-2 victory
over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 22 October 2005.
Athletic have registered only two Premiership victories over
Arsenal, and just one of those on enemy territory. Goals from
Steven Brown, Claus Jensen and Jason Euell and own goal from
Richard Wright helped Charlton record a 2-4 triumph on 4 November
2001.
DARREN BENT is Charlton's top scorer with 10. He has netted eight
in the Premiership, six more than any other club mate.
REFEREE
Mike Riley (Leeds, Yorkshire)
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Arsenal 3-0 Charlton Athletic
18 March 2006 - Ref: Dermot Gallagher
Arsenal scorers: Pires 13, Adebayor 32, Hleb 49
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Charlton Athletic 1-2 Arsenal
30 September 2006 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Charlton scorer: Darren Bent 21
Arsenal scorers: Van Persie 32, 49
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
at Arsenal only
League: Arsenal 15 wins, Charlton 5, Draws 5
Prem: Arsenal 5 wins, Charlton 1, Draws 1
Arsenal
01 Lehmann
31 Hoyte
05 Toure
06 Senderos
22 Clichy
13 Hleb
04 Fabregas
19 Silva
07 Rosicky
14 Henry
11 Van Persie
Substitutes
24 Almunia, 15 Denilson, 16 Flamini, 20 Djourou, 30 Aliadiere
Charlton
38 Carson
28 Sankofa
15 El Karkouri
23 Diawara
22 Traore
19 Rommedahl
20 Hughes
04 Faye
08 Holland
11 Ambrose
07 Bent
Substitutes
36 Myhre, 06 Kishishev, 14 Thomas, 18 Hasselbaink, 24 Fortune
