Middlesbrough roll into town today for an important fixture at The Emirates for differing reasons. For Arsenal, it is vital to get back to winning ways and maintain the advantage over Manchester United and Chelsea. For the visitors, they have to bounce back from an extremely disappointing FA Cup exit at home to Cardiff and also they need points to ensure they stay ahead of their rivals in the relegation fight.

Both United and Arsenal face tough fixtures. Whilst it is not normally something I would appreciate, Chelsea hammering Derby could do us a favour. Any team on the rebound from a drubbing plays a more defensively tight game than normal; if luck goes their way, Derby might yet get a point from their clash with United. I am not holding my breath though.

Mathieu Flamini spoke ahead of the match about the position that the team find themselves in,

Now we cannot concede any more points. We have to win all the time, especially when you are in the title race. We have to work harder, to concentrate more and I’m sure everything will be okay. I think it’s not very good to think too much about the last game. Just try to learn from what happened before. We have to look forward, see what was wrong before and learn and keep going

The recent run of draws has been costly. Instead of being nine points ahead of United, we are two. In some respects Flamini is right but more from the point that it puts pressure on United. They will drop points between now and the end of the season but not too many and with their goal difference being more positive than ours, wins are the key.

Manuel Almunia is bullish about the run-in,

We are still there and have to keeping fighting. Without commitment it is impossible to win it. Even more, because at the end we have four nice games to get the points. It is important to stay at the top to fight for the title in the last few games

The team news at this early stage of writing is pretty positive. Arsene reports that RvP, Kolo Toure and Theo Walcott are all fit and ready to go. Tomas Rosicky meanwhile is a mystery,

Personally I don’t know when he will be back. We miss him yes he is a big player and has a fantastic spirit. We have missed his talent. I can not really give positive news about his injury. It is a strange injury but not a bad one

There is not a lot more that can be said about his injuries. He has been extremely unlucky since joining and it is not an unfair question as to whether his participation at Euro 2008 is a wise idea. However, the way that UEFA and FIFA rules are currently written, it is not down to Arsenal. Surely though, when a player has missed as much of a season his club ought to have the right to withdraw him to enable a full recovery for the new season? Another interminable and undecided debate could ensue but the G-14 have folded and taken their pieces of silver so such a change in the rules is unlikely.

Rosicky is not the only absentee with Abou Diaby also missing. Of the returnees, I suspect only Toure will start. van Persie has been missing for too long for him to be rushed back meaning that Adebayor and Bendtner would be the strikeforce at the outset. Bendtner spoke on Arsenal TV about getting more playing time and the positive impact it would have on his confidence,

I need to obviously get more games. The more you play with the team as a regular starter, then the more you get to learn and know the team. If I can get a good run in the side, then I am sure you will see that I can do it

Bendtner has a fair point but has still time on his hands to learn his trade. The core is there but the refinements will come. Meanwhile, Toure’s return will signal an end to Philippe Senderos’ recent improving run of form. It is harsh in some respects but he is philosophical about his demotion to the bench, a silent acknowledgement that when you are deputy to someone of Toure’s ability, it is somewhat inevitable,

I believe I’ve already shown what I’m capable of. My performances have given me great belief. I’m very happy that the manager gave me his confidence and played me in these games. I will try to do my best for the team. If I lose my place, I will work even harder to get back in

My line up for today would be,

Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb; Adebayor, Bendtner

with a bench of

Lehmann, Senderos, Walcott, van Persie, Song

If things are going well, I would hope that van Persie and Walcott would be given half an hour runouts with Adebayor and Hleb being given a well deserved rest. Three points is the key and a big performance as well so much will depend on that before any substitutions are made.

On the Champions League draw, Arsene said it would be ‘interesting and challenging’. Personally, I am not thinking about it until the matches happen.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.