Arsenal v Blackburn

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 2 April Kick-off: 1730 BST
Coverage: Watch live on ESPN and highlights on Match of the Day; listen on talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal welcome back Theo Walcott, Alex Song, Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas, all of whom missed the draw at West Brom, but Denilson and Aaron Ramsey miss out.

Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner have been passed fit, while manager Arsene Wenger says Manuel Almunia will continue in goal ahead of Jens Lehmann.

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn hopes to recover from a hip problem in time to face the Gunners on Saturday.

Vince Grella will miss the rest of the season after having Achilles surgery.

Arsenal

Injured: Bartley & Frimpong (both knee), Denilson (toe), Djourou & Fabianski (both shoulder), Mannone (thigh), Ramsey (groin), Szczesny (finger), Vermaelen (Achilles)

Blackburn

Suspended: Givet (one match)

Doubtful: Andrews (groin), Dunn (hip)

Injured: Grella (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

April is supposedly the cruellest month, but March was also fairly miserable for Arsenal, who suffered cup defeats to Barcelona and Manchester United and lost ground in the title race, drawing their two Premier League games, against Sunderland and West Brom.

Things can change very quickly, and what is important for us is to get back winning… the psychological lift of coming back from 2-0 down at West Brom was vital Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

The Gunners have had two weeks to stew over the slack first-half defending that ultimately cost them victory at the Hawthorns. That result means the Gunners begin the weekend five points behind Manchester United – a gap that will increase to eight if the leaders beat West Ham in Saturday’s early game.

Like Arsenal, Blackburn also hit back from two goals down to draw a fortnight ago, although a point at home to fast-fading Blackpool could eventually prove a missed opportunity. That was certainly the verdict of gamblers who lumped on Kean losing his job, forcing bookmakers to make the Scot odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post.

Rovers’ Indian owners have repeatedly backed Kean – Venkatesh Rao insists he has “no idea” where the latest rumours have come from. But if Kean is to justify the faith shown in him, Blackburn will have to raise their game.

Five of their remaining eight matches come against top-half sides, while trips to West Ham and Wolves look perilous given Rovers’ poor away form. A positive result at Arsenal, where Blackburn have lost their last seven league games, would be the perfect way to engender self-belief.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Arsenal have won their last seven home league games against Blackburn, scoring a total of 25 goals and conceding just four. Rovers have leaked 18 goals in their four visits to the Emirates Stadium.

• Blackburn’s last win away to the Gunners was a 2-1 victory at Highbury on 26 October 2002.

Arsenal

• The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches – their longest run in two years since a 21-match streak between November 2008 and May 2009. However, they have won only one of their last six games in league and cup (W1, D2, L3).

• Robin van Persie has scored 16 goals in 16 games for club and country in 2011 (14 in 14 for Arsenal).

• Samir Nasri has failed to score in his last 11 appearances for Arsenal. He last netted in the 3-1 win at Leeds on 19 January.

• Arsenal have conceded just one goal in six Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium in 2011. That goal was scored by Louis Saha in Everton’s 2-1 defeat on 1 February.

Blackburn

• Rovers are winless in their last six league games (D2, L4). It is their longest run without a victory since a nine-match streak between November 2009 and January 2010.

• Blackburn’s comeback against Blackpool, when they hit back from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw, was the first time this season they had collected Premier League points after conceding the opening goal.

• Rovers have lost all five of their away Premier League games in 2011, conceding a total of 16 goals.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Arsenal

Van Persie: 15 goals (11 league); Nasri: 14 goals (9 league)

Blackburn

Kalinic: 6 goals (5 league); Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Phil Dowd

Assistant referees: Dean Mohareb & Ceri Richards

Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Arsenal (D2-2 v West Brom, a): Almunia, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Wilshere, Denilson (Chamakh 46), Ramsey (Bendtner 57), Nasri, Arshavin, van Persie. Subs not used: Lehmann, Rosicky, Eboue, Gibbs, Miquel.

Blackburn (D2-2 v Blackpool, h): Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Emerton (Phil Jones 59), Nzonzi (Roberts 72), Jermaine Jones, Diouf (Pedersen 79), Santa Cruz, Hoilett. Subs not used: Bunn, Kalinic, Rochina, Benjani.