Post by Taxigirl on Oct 24, 2003 16:31:15 GMT
The Valley
Sunday, 26 October
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Referee:
Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Charlton have a growing injury list, which includes defenders Luke Young, Gary Rowett and Richard Rufus.
They also have worries at the other end of the pitch, with strikers Kevin Lisbie, Shaun Bartlett and Carlton Cole all sidelined.
Arsenal's Patrick Vieira (thigh) is out but Fredrik Ljungberg is back in contention for a starting role.
However, defender Martin Keown is still ruled out for at least a further week with a calf injury.
Charlton from: Kiely, Kishishev, Powell, Stuart, Fish, Parker, Holland, Euell, Jensen, Di Canio, Hreidarsson, Fortune, Royce, Dean, Johansson.
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Stack, Cole, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cygan, Edu, Gilberto Silva, Parlour, Ljungberg, Pires, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
CHARLTON ATHLETIC and Arsenal engage in the fourth London derby of the Premiership season with both seeking a fourth successive league win. The Addicks are on fire at the moment while Arsenal, woeful in Europe, boast the sole remaining unbeaten record in the top division.
Since an inauspicious start, comprising of one win in six league games and a Carling Cup tie which needed penalties to dispose of Second Division Luton, Alan Curbishley's side haven't looked back. They've beaten Liverpool in their last home match with a Kevin Lisbie hat trick, then Portsmouth and Blackburn away and now face the high riding Gunners aiming to continue their best winning sequence since registering five out of five between 22 January and 22 February.
Charlton were revelling in the accolade of London's derby specialists until Arsenal tore that proud boast to shreads with a 0-3 victory in this corresponding fixture last season. The Addicks' only win in nine home League meetings with their North London rivals spanning 47 years was 1-0 on New Years Day 2001 when Jonatan Johansson scored the winner.
ARSENAL extended an unwanted club record when they lost 2-1 to Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine on Tuesday - their eighth successive Champions League game without a win. But in the Premiership the Gunners go into the weekend defending a one point lead at the top of the table and knowing that victory here would give them 26 points - a tally they have never accumulated before after the first ten matches of a Premier League campaign.
Thierry Henry, who scored midweek, has netted in all five of the Gunners home League games. He goes to the Valley eager to add to his nine goals in all competitions (seven in the League including three penalties) and to his total of seven Premiership goals planted in the Charlton net.
Arsenal did the 'double' over Charlton last season with an aggregate score of 5-0. They are seeking their third win in a row at the Valley after successive 0-3 victories. In the most recent last September, the Gunners broke a 62 year old top flight record by scoring in a 45th consecutive game.
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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Going into the weekend: 7th 14 points
Won last four League and Cup games.
One of nine clubs with only one home Premiership win so far.
One of two clubs going into the weekend whose players have been shown three red cards in top flight competition. The other is Leicester.
Registered 799 draws in their League history (excluding Play Offs).
ARSENAL
Going into the weekend: TOP 23 points
One of two clubs to have won seven times in the Premiership. The other is Manchester United.
One of two clubs boasting the longest winning sequence in the top League (four).
Built the longest unbeaten streak in the highest League of nine games (seven wins, two draws).
Won nine and drawn two in the top division since losing 2-3 at home to Leeds on 4 May.
Not lost in eight Premiership matches on the road (four this season).
Won five and drawn three on their League travels (three wins, one draw this season) since going down 2-0 at Blackburn on 15 March.
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POTENTIAL CAREER MILESTONES
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Steve HUGHES started his professional playing career at Arsenal.
Should he figure, Kevin LISBIE will be making his 150th club career appearance.
If selected in the eleven, Scott PARKER will be making his 100th career League start.
If selected in the eleven, Chris POWELL will be making his 200th start for Athletic and 600th club career start.
If involved, Simon ROYCE will be making his 200th career League appearance (excluding Play Offs).
If he takes the field, Graham STUART (33 on 24 October) will be making his 400th League appearance (excluding Play Offs).
ARSENAL
Sylvain WILTORD is a double strike away from scoring 50 goals for Arsenal.
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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Charlton Athletic 0-3 Arsenal
14 September 2002 - Ref: Steve Dunn
Arsenal scorers: Henry 44, Wiltord 67, Edu 88
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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Charlton 9 wins, Arsenal 25, Draws 10
Prem: Charlton 2 wins, Arsenal 5, Draws 1
HEAD TO HEAD at Charlton
League: Charlton 4 wins, Arsenal 13, Draws 5
Prem: Charlton 1 win, Arsenal 3, Draws 0
