Arsenal
vs
Birmingham
Match Schedule:
Date:October 17th
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
TEAM NEWS
The two protagonists of the last meeting between these clubs - Arsenal's Eduardo and Birmingham defender Martin Taylor - both miss out through injury.
Eduardo, who suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle in a tackle from Taylor, has a thigh problem.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is fit, and Manuel Almunia should return from a chest infection.
Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome returns, but Christian Benitez missed his flight from South America.
Arsenal
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Almunia (chest infection), Nasri (fitness)
Injured: Bendtner (groin), Clichy (ankle), Denilson (back), Djourou (knee), Eduardo (thigh)
Birmingham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Tainio (knee)
Injured/unavailable: Benitez (missed flight), Bent, Queudrue & Vignal (all hamstring), Fahey & Parnaby (unspecified), Murphy (knee), Martin Taylor (ankle)
MATCH PREVIEW
Birmingham last won at Arsenal in 1957, the year the Russians launched a dog into space, a BBC Panorama April Fool convinced viewers that spaghetti grew on trees in Switzerland, and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan declared that Britons had "never had it so good."
"Will I have the final decision on team and transfer targets? That is the normal remit of a manager and we will pretty much be working that way"
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish
It is a message Birmingham City will hope rings true for them under new owner Carson Yeung. Two years after he first invested in the club, the Hong Kong businessman has finally taken full control and promised up to £40m for new signings in January.
However, Yeung faced accusations of team tinkering as chairman at Hong Kong Rangers and the bookmakers make Alex McLeish 7-1 third favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his job.
Arsenal are also a step closer to being under new ownership. American billionaire Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in the club to 28.9%, just shy of the 30% threshold that would trigger a mandatory offer for the remaining shares.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 24 home league games against Birmingham (W16, D8).
• Birmingham have scored just nine goals in those matches - and only one in their last six visits.
606: DEBATE
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Arsenal
• Won their last four home matches in the league and scored four or more goals in each of those games. They have never scored four goals or more in five consecutive top-flight home matches.
• They are the Premier League's top scorers with 24 goals. It is their highest tally after seven matches since 1958.
• The 10 goals they have conceded represents their worst defensive record at this stage of a Premier League season.
Birmingham
• Birmingham have lost four of their last five league games.
• They are yet to score before the 75th minute of any match this season.
• They have won both league matches after scoring first this season, and lost all five league games when they have conceded the first goal.
• Sebastian Larsson made 12 appearances for Arsenal before joining Birmingham in summer 2006.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Arsenal
Vermaelen: 5 goals (4 league);
Fabregas: 4 goals (4 league); van Persie: 4 goals (3 league)
Birmingham
Bowyer: 2 goals (1 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Lee Probert
Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Nick Kinseley
Fourth official: Phil Crossley
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Arsenal (W6-2 v Blackburn, h): Mannone; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas (Ramsey 76), Song Billong, Diaby, Rosicky (Walcott 69), van Persie, Arshavin (Bendtner 76). Subs not used: Szczesny, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs.
Birmingham (L1-2 v Burnley, a): Hart; Carr, R Johnson, Dann, Queudrue (Ridgewell 46), Fahey (Larsson 46), Ferguson, Tainio (Phillips 67), McFadden, Bowyer, O'Connor. Subs not used: Maik Taylor, McSheffrey, O'Shea, Carsley.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Birmingham 2-2 Arsenal (23 February 2008)
Birmingham scorer: McFadden 28, 90 pen.
Arsenal scorer: Walcott 50, 55.
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