Aston Villa meet Premier League high-flyers Arsenal at Villa Park tonight as they look to continue their own assault at the top end of the table.

With both outfits going through mixed fortunes in the FA Cup at the weekend, it is back to domestic league action this week. Villa finally saw off League One outfit Brighton & Hove Albion to make the fifth round, but Arsene Wenger's Gunners suffered a disappointing defeat at Stoke City.

Sol Campbell made a return to the Arsenal backline and looked slightly off the pace in the 3-1 loss at Stoke although he will be hoping for more first-team minutes to return to form.

With injuries continuing to bother Wenger, the clash at Villa looks that bit more difficult. Defenders Bacary Sagna (shoulder), Kieran Gibbs (metatarsal) and Johan Djourou (knee) all remain sidelined.

Samir Nasri (hamstring), Fran Merida (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf), Robin Van Persie (ankle) and Nicklas Bendtner (hernia) are also in the treatment room at Emirates Stadium.

Villa have five injury doubts ahead of the fixture with Emile Heskey, Nigel Reo-Coker and Wilfred Bouma (all ankle), John Carew (knee) and Richard Dunne (hamstring) all facing a race against time to feature for Martin O'Neill's impressive side.

The Midlands side have failed to win in their last three league fixtures and this is a run that needs to be reversed if they are to figure in the business end of the table.

They sit in seventh place but they are just two points off Tottenham Hotspur who occupy fourth position.

Arsenal's recent Premier League form has been superb. Since their demoralising 3-0 home loss to London rivals Chelsea on November 29, they have won seven and drawn two of their last nine matches.

This run has propelled them right back into contention with Manchester United and Chelsea sweating over their imperious form.

The games is not far off 100% over including the exchnages, and some might be tempted by 5/2 about Villa given the cup results at the weekend. But Arsenal will be a totally different proposition tonight and can come good and 13/10 might look a big price if they score first.

Elsewhere, Chelsea welcome Birmingham City to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening as they look to continue their title charge at the top end of the Premier League table.

Carlo Ancelotti continues to enjoy his debut season in England and his side saw off the challenge of Championship outfit Preston North End in the FA Cup on Saturday to give the Blues a realistic chance of grabbing cup glory this term.  

Since the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on December 5, Chelsea have went six games unbeaten in the league and their last Premier League clash threw up a magnificent 7-2 home success against Sunderland.

Nicolas Anelka was the chief terrorist that day as he hit a well-taken hat-trick.

With Ivory Coast eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will return to the fold and could feature against Alex McLeish's impressive City side.

You would have to go back to October 17 to Birmingham's last defeat and they are the form side of the league as they continue to silence their critics.  

They have also progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup after Saturday's excellent 2-1 triumph over Everton at Goodison Park.

However, the clash against Chelsea should pose a real test of their resolve as they look to make it 13 unbeaten following their promotion from the Championship last term.

Star-striker Cameron Jerome (ankle) could be fit for the contest but Lee Carsley (ankle), Garry O'Connor (hip) and Teemu Tainio (knee) will miss out.

Chelsea's Ashley Cole (ankle) may struggle to make the side and Jose Bosingwa (knee) nears a comeback from his lay-off.

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, who picked up a knee injury on international duty during the Africa Cup of Nations, is out and Juliano Belletti (calf) continues to convalesce.

Cheslea look far too short at 1/4 though givem Birmingham's profile, and the bet for us has to be Birmingham +1.5 on the AH.

Published 26-01-2010

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