Arsenal vs Birmingham

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2003/2004

English Premier Arsenal 0-0 Birmingham City 01-05-2004
English Premier Birmingham City 0-3 Arsenal 22-11-2003

2002/2003

English Premier Birmingham City 0-4 Arsenal 12-01-2003
English Premier Arsenal 2-0 Birmingham City 18-08-2002

1997/1998

English League Cup Arsenal 4-1 Birmingham City 14-10-1997

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

ARSENAL attempt to get their bid for successive Premiership titles back on track, against a Birmingham side, who are yet to win or even score against them in the Premier League. The Gunners need a confidence boosting result here ahead of Tuesday's decisive Champions League final group game, at home to Rosenborg.

The Gunners lost 2-1 at Liverpool last Sunday, but have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 80 Premiership games since consecutive 1-2 losses away to Everton and home to Blackburn on 19 and 26 October 2002. They must now play catch-up, as they aim to stretch their record unbeaten home run in the Premiership to 28 matches. They surrendered the leadership to Chelsea a month ago, and now find themselves five points adrift having dropped 12 points from the last 18. Indeed in November, their record was inferior to that of lowly Norwich. But Arsene Wenger's side have scored more than three times as many League goals as Birmingham, and it could be argued that this match pits the Premiership's most attractive and the least entertaining sides. The 15 top flight matches involving the Gunners have produced 59 goals, where Birmingham's 15 have yielded just 27.

Arsenal suffered a hangover from their title celebrations when frustrated by Birmingham in last season's corresponding fixture in May, which ended goalless. The Gunners have picked up 10 points out of the 12 available in Premiership contests with the Brummies.

BIRMINGHAM CITY have registered just one League win since August, and are on their lowest points return ever to this identical stage in the Premiership.

Steve Bruce's Blues built the longest sequence of draws in the top division this season in September and October when five successive games ended all square, and they prepare to face the champions on the back of two more stalemates. This match provides the chance to compare the sharpest and bluntest attacks in the top division. While Birmingham have only managed 12 goals this term (0.8 goals per game), the Londoners have piled in 39 (2.6 goals per game).

Last season's goalless draw was Birmingham's second in three League visits to Highbury and third in five. The Midlanders are seeking a first win in 22 visits to the north London venue. Of the last 21, seven have been drawn and 14 lost. City's only win in 40 League visits over 78 years was 1-3 in the top flight on 19 October 1957.

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ARSENAL

2nd 31 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 2nd
Lowest could fall: 3rd

Not won in four in all competitions.
Drawn two and lost two since beating Tottenham 4-5 away in the Premiership on 13 November.
Gone 13 Premiership, Champions League and Carling Cup outings without a clean sheet.
Lost twice in the last 31 League and Cup games since early April.
Two losses in 55 Premiership matches (37 wins, 16 draws, two defeats).
Won nine top tier encounters this season - only Chelsea can beat that with 11.
One of two clubs to have lost twice in the Premiership this season - the other is Manchester United. Chelsea have lost just once.
Most prolific top flight scorers - 39 goals in 15 outings.
Their 15 League encounters have produced 59 goals (39 for, 20 against).
Scored first in all but four of their League encounters. Only Arsenal and Chelsea have opened the scoring in as many as 11 Premiership games.
Built the Premiership's longest winning sequence so far this season - five games.
At their most dangerous in the middle 15 minutes of the second half of Premiership games, when 12 of the 39 goals have been netted.
The spread of Gunners goals has been 12 in the first half, and 27 in the second half, making them the highest second period scorers in the top division.
At their most vulnerable in the last quarter-hour of top division clashes, when seven of 20 goals have been shipped.
Failed to score only once in this highest League campaign. Only Newcastle can match that.
Lost the lead six times during matches at the highest League level. Only Newcastle are inferior to that, having let the lead slip ten times.
Won three Premiership matches from a losing position. Only Southampton can identify with that.
Lost by more than a single goal once in 61 Premiership games (away to Manchester United).
Need to score five times to bring their all-time Premier League goals tally to 800.

Fourth strongest club in home Premiership matches with 15 points, behind Liverpool (1 Cool , and Aston Villa and Chelsea (17 each).
Gained one more point away from home (15 at Highbury, 16 on their travels).
Won four League games at Highbury. Liverpool have won six at home - Aston Villa and Chelsea, five each.
One of four clubs still with unbeaten home records in the top tier (four wins, three draws).
Looking for an 11th home game without loss in League and Cup games this season.
Not lost in 27 home Premiership encounters.
Won 20 and drawn seven home League games since losing 2-3 to Leeds at Highbury on 4 May.
Holding the strongest attack in home top League clashes - netting 20 goals in seven outings at an average of 2.86 per game.
Scored in every home League game.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

14th 14 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 13th
Lowest could fall: 17th

Drawn the last two - both Premiership.
Not won in three.
Drawn two and lost one since winning 0-1 at Liverpool.
Won one of the last 10 in all competitions.
Completed two wins from the last 23 highest League outings.
13 points is Birmingham's lowest ever return from the first 15 matches of a Premiership season. In their only two previous Premiership campaigns, 19 and 20 points were secured after 15 matches, and 20 and 23 points after the first 16 matches when they eventually finishing 13th and 10th in 2002/03 and 2003/04 respectively.
Won 38, drawn 38 and lost 38 of the 114 Premiership and Football League games played under Steve Bruce.
Drawn over half of their top division encounters (eight of 15).
Only Norwich have drawn more in the highest echelon (nine).
Only scored more than a single goal in the Premiership twice this season.
Premiership clean sheets have been kept at home to Manchester City and Manchester United, and away to Southampton and Liverpool.
Lowest scorers in the top flight with 12 goals.
Of those only four have been netted in the second half.
Failed to score six times in the League so far this season.
Holding the lowest aggregate in top tier soccer. Their 15 matches have accrued just 27 goals (12 for, 15 against).
Yet to concede in the last 15 minutes of a Premiership game.
Conceded the opening goal in nine top tier outings. Blackburn and West Brom have allowed the opposition to score first 11 times, and Norwich 10.
Boast six players to have figured in every one of their Premiership matches this season - that's more than any other club.

Unbeaten in four away Premiership matches.
Drawn three and won one since losing 2-1 at Middlesbrough on 11 September.
Drawn four Premiership games on the road - only Norwich have finished level more often (five).

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

ARSENAL

Jens LEHMAN, LAUREN and Kolo TOURE have played every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premiership games. No club has more than three 100% every presents in Premiership clashes. Aston Villa and Norwich also have three.

Thierry HENRY leads the way in the Barclays Golden Boot standings with 11 Premiership goals, two ahead of Andy Johnson of Crystal Palace.

Robert PIRES is a one short of 50 Premiership goals.

Fredrik LJUNGBERG is one short of totalling 50 goals across the European leagues. The Swedish International has scored 39 Premiership goals for Arsenal, in addition to 10 top flight strikes for Halmstads BK in Sweden.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Muzzy IZZET is a brace short of 50 club career goals.

If he lines-up for the kick off, Darren ANDERTON will be making his 400th club career start.

Should he figure, Jamie CLAPHAM will be making his 50th Premiership appearance for Birmingham.

If involved, Stephen CLEMENCE will be making his 150th career League appearance.

If he plays, Julian GRAY will be making his 150th career League appearance.

If he takes his usual place in goal, Maik TAYLOR will be making his 50th Premiership appearance for the Brummies.

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Arsenal vs B'ham preview

It seems almost unthinkable that Arsenal could bow to a third defeat in seven days when they host Birmingham on Saturday - but only six weeks ago it was fairly hard to believe they would lose at all.

A breathtaking injury-time strike by Neil Mellor condemned Arsenal to a second league defeat of the season last Sunday, and The Gunners' youthful reserves were expelled from the Carling Cup by a similarly under-strength Manchester United team in midweek.

Manager Arsene Wenger has confessed that the ill form worries him, but will be hopeful that Birmingham's own patchy form, combined with a still formidable record at home, will buoy The Gunners to a much-needed win.

Jermaine Pennant and Robin van Persie are the latest players to join a lengthy injury list that also includes Dennis Bergkamp, Edu and Gilberto Silva.

Pascal Cygan has been ruled out but England international Sol Campbell will add much-needed steel to the defence.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is another that has been frustrated with recent form.

Blues have thrown away a half time lead in heir last two Premiership matches, and memory of last month's victory over Liverpool is already fading.

The loss of the impressive Mario Melchiot at half time severely hampered Blues against Norwich last week, and the former Chelsea man is a doubt for Saturday's game.

Muzzy Izzet will face a late check on his knee problem, whilst Stan Lazaridis is also doubtful with his hamstring problem.

Julian Gray missed the Norwich game, but has shaken off his illness and has been declared fit.

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Prem Preview: Arsenal-Birmingham

Arsenal know that another home slip up could be fatal as they bid to get back on track after an indifferent run of results.
Arsene Wenger has admitted he is worried by his sides recent dip in form that has seen them fall five points behind Chelsea at the Premiership summit.

And no wonder. Last weekend in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, it took the Gunners until the second-half to register a shot at goal. Patrick Vieiras equaliser in that match was flattering in the extreme, although many felt justice was done with Neil Mellors late, late winner.

Arsenal are still attempting to regain that fluidity in attack that marked them out as a class apart last Sean and the beginning of this. Little seems to be coming naturally at the moment, with too many eye of the needle passes going astray.

And then there are the defensive problems. The uncertainty of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, coupled with that of his back-four means Wenger has much work to do on the training ground.

Birmingham will be looking to exploit those well-documented problems at the back when they make the visit to Highbury. Its been a difficult season for Steve Bruces men after much investment in the summer.

One new recruit, Jesper Gronkjaer, has failed to hit the heights, and a January move to Atletico Madrid may beckon.

Bruce said of the Danish winger: "If the price is right, itll be in the best interests, I think, for both parties that he moves on."

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LATEST TEAM NEWS

Arsenal: Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) and Robin van Persie (ankle) have been added to an injury list that already includes Pascal Cygan, Gilberto, Edu and Dennis Bergkamp. The latter will return to training on Sunday or Monday.

Birmingham: Mario Melchiot and Julian Gray are both fit, but Stan Lazaridis is not ready despite his return to training.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Patrick Vieira (Arsenal): Wenger will be looking for a big performance from his captain before he sits out the next two games through suspension. Impressed in the second-half against Liverpool.

Maik Taylor (Birmingham): the Gunners may not be at their fluent best, but one senses that the Birmingham stopper will need to have a very good game if his side are to get anything out of this daunting fixture.

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Arsenal: Lehmann; Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole; Ljungberg, Fabregas, Vieira, Pires; Reyes, Henry.

Birmingham: Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Johnson, Savage, Anderton, Dunn, Morrison, Heskey.