| Birmingham City (9th) Vs Arsenal (3rd) | |||
| Last Season: 23/02/08, Birmingham 2 - 2 Arsenal L W W D L L Form W W W W W W | |||
Arsenal can make up ground on title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea with a win over Birmingham City.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has no new injury worries ahead of the Barclays Premier League match with Arsenal.
McLeish will be able to select again from the players on duty for Wednesday's 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Garry O'Connor (groin) and Lee Carsley (ankle) remain long-term casualties while David Murphy continues to recover from a hamstring setback.
Murphy had been stepping up his comeback from a broken knee cap but has missed City's last two reserve matches to check his progress.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen serves a one-match ban for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League trip to Birmingham.
Veteran Mikael Silvestre is expected to fill in alongside Sol Campbell, while striker Nicklas Bendtner (ankle) should be fit.
Centre-back William Gallas (calf) has returned to training, and Holland forward Robin van Persie is stepping up his recovery from several months out with ankle ligament damage.
Aaron Ramsey (broken leg), Kieran Gibbs (foot) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain sidelined.
Birmingham City: Hart, Carr, Parnaby, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Fahey, Michel, Gardner, McFadden, Tainio, Jerome, Phillips, Benitez, Taylor.
Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Silvestre, Campbell, Eboue, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Bendtner, Fabianski, Eduardo, Eastmond, Sagna, Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Vela.
