Make or break for Gunners
Arsenal's fading Premier League title hopes will be put to the sternest of tests this weekend when they face leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Gunners, looking to recover from the body blow of their Champions League exit at the hands of English rivals Liverpool on Tuesday, will kick-off six points behind champions United and only a win at the 'Theatre of Dreams' will keep them in with a chance of topping the table.
Arsenal are often portrayed as a sublimely gifted side but one lacking the grit of a champion team.
Critics point to their lack of English players saying, that for all the skill of their foreign stars, this leaves Arsenal dangerously deficient in traditional local virtues such as work-rate and stubborn determination.
However, that analysis ignores Arsenal's recent win at Bolton Wanderers where, belying their reputation as a 'soft' side away from the Emirates Stadium and one especially vulnerable 'up north, Gunners came from 2-0 and a man down to triumph 3-2.
Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor said the team would not lack resilience against United.
"The most important thing now is to stay focused on what we can achieve this season," he said. "We are still playing for the title and we still believe we can win something at the end of the season."
Adebayor added Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would have no trouble rousing his multi-national side for a match where they will be without French midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who sustained an ankle injury against Liverpool.
"He knows the words he will use so that we can come back on the pitch to be more successful and want it more."
Reigning English champions United head into the match on the back of their Champions League success over Roma that set up a semi-final clash with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Unlike last season, where AC Milan ended United's European dream in the last four, Old Trafford supremo Sir Alex Ferguson is confident his side can triumph on two fronts this term.
"I think the energy of the team is far ahead of where it was a year ago," Ferguson said.
In-form strikers Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are set to return against Arsenal after being rested in midweek.
Winning, however, may not be enough to keep Chelsea manager Avram Grant in his job. The Blues, at home to Wigan on Monday, are currently second, just three points behind United and are in the semi-finals of the Champions League after seeing off Fenerbahce.
But their Israeli manager has failed to capture the hearts of the London club's fans in the way that his charismatic predecessor Jose Mourinho did and now it seems that the supporters' sentiments have found their way into the Stamford Bridge boardroom.
"I don't think the football is where we want to be, but everybody wants to improve," said Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in a less than ringing endorsement of Grant's methods.
Everton will go level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool, their rivals for a Champions League place, ahead of their near neighbours' match against Blackburn on Sunday, if they beat Birmingham City on Saturday
Victory for Birmingham would all but assure them of safety but the match at St Andrews was overshadowed Friday by the news that co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady had been interviewed by police as part of an ongoing investigation into football corruption.
Off-field turmoil has been a feature of life at Liverpool this season and fans will be grateful for the distraction of a match after Tom Hicks, not content with falling out with American co-owner George Gillett, called Thursday for club chief executive Rick Parry to be sacked.
At the other end of the table second-bottom Fulham face fellow strugglers Reading desperate for points after defeat by Sunderland while already-relegated Derby are at home to Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
Bolton, four points adrift of safety, will fancy their chances at home to a West Ham side beaten by Portsmouth in midweek.
FA Cup finalists Pompey, who are sixth in the table, will look to keep pace with Everton when Newcastle come to Fratton Park for Saturday's late kick-off.
Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who scored their winner at Upton Park, believes the south coast club can still finish fifth and so qualify for the UEFA Cup without having to beat Championship Cardiff in next month's FA Cup final at Wembley.
"I really believe our squad is good enough to overcome Everton and we will certainly give it our best shot to finish fifth. We just aim to keep winning all our games," he said.
Sunderland can take a big step towards staying up at home to Manchester City while Tottenham take on fellow mid-table side Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane.
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