Premier League preview: Arsenal v Blackburn

Arsenal meet Blackburn in the English Premier League on Saturday hoping to respond after their disappointing draw with Bolton.

The lacklustre 0-0 draw at the Reebok Stadium cost Arsene Wenger’s men, who slipped to seventh as a result.

It was undoubtedly two points dropped for Arsenal, but they welcome struggling Blackburn to Emirates Stadium with a chance to return to winning ways.

Captain Robin van Persie, who tops the Premier League’s goalscoring charts with 19, has been in career-best form this season, although Arsenal may be becoming too dependent on the Dutchman.

Wanting a top-four finish, Wenger said his team needs to approach every league game like a cup final.

“We have confidence, but we produce it game by game, every game for us in the championship is a cup final now,” the Frenchman said after the Bolton match.

“We go into a period now where we play in the FA Cup, we play in the Champions League, so it is important that we do not have more injuries.”

Midfielder Jack Wilshere appears almost certain to miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.

Abou Diaby is still a few weeks away because of a hamstring injury, while Carl Jenkinson, Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs are all likely to miss.

They meet a Blackburn side sitting in the relegation zone and coming off a 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle United.

Manager Steve Kean rued his team’s luck, but it could have been a different game had David Dunn converted a 43rd-minute penalty.

Blackburn shocked Arsenal in their last meeting, recording a thrilling 4-3 win on September 17 thanks to Yakubu’s brace.

Michel Salgado and Vince Grella are again likely to be out through injury, while Nigerian Yakubu will serve the last game of his three-match suspension.

Missing top-scorer Yakubu, Kean started with new signing Anthony Modeste up front against Newcastle, and the Frenchman is likely to be given another chance in the clash against Arsenal.