The Gunners, five points behind league leaders Aston Villa, have lost just once in their last nine visits to Highfield Road.

With Villa's match against Chelsea rained off, Arsenal have a chance to narrow the gap.

But the reigning champions will be without their Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp who has a back injury.

England defender Tony Adams will also miss the game because of back problems.

Liam Daish returns to Coventry's squad for the first time in over year after major knee surgery.

Also back are Roland Nilsson - after missing one match with a shin injury - Steve Froggatt and Marc Edworthy who were cup-tied for the midweek defeat against Luton.

Derby v Leeds

Derby have suffered another defensive casualty with Spencer Prior ruled out of their home game against Leeds.

Prior has a knee injury but skipper Igor Stimac returns after Wednesday night's Worthington Cup exit against Arsenal.

Midfielder Lee Carsley is also doubtful with a knee injury but manager Jim Smith hopes to have Lars Bohinen back after a torn calf muscle kept the Norwegian out for three games.

Leeds wing-back Danny Granville misses the trip following a two-match suspension for his sending off against Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.

Gunnar Halle or Ian Harte will step in for Granville, who had started to command a regular first-team place under new manager David O'Leary after failing to be given a chance by George Graham.

Goalkeeper Nigel Martyn looks set to sit out his third consecutive match due to a rib injury, with 19-year-old Paul Robinson again deputising.

Everton v Manchester United

Everton take a 10-match unbeaten run into their home clash with Manchester United, their best sequence for almost two years.

Yet to score a home League goal this season, Everton will be without the suspended Don Hutchison, the scorer of the winner in their midweek Worthington Cup success at Middlesbrough.

Olivier Dacourt should have recovered from an ankle injury, but Mitch Ward is out for two weeks with a leg problem.

John Collins and Michael Ball, both substitutes at the Riverside, should both return to the starting line-up.

Leicester v Liverpool

Liverpool's managerial duo must decide which two strikers out of three will play at Leicester.

Robbie Fowler: Will he lose out to Owen?

In their last three games, co-managers Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier have left Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Karlheinz Riedle out in turn. They deny that it is a rotation policy, but it still leaves a tough decision at Filbert Street, with Tuesday's UEFA Cup clash in Valencia also in mind.

Steve McManaman and Veggard Heggem, both rested for the Worthington Cup win over Fulham, should both return, while David James is expected to regain the keeper's role from Brad Friedel.

Newcastle v West Ham

West Ham striker Paul Kitson is expected to replace the out-of-form John Hartson in the starting line-up for the trip to Newcastle.

Hammers boss Harry Redknapp must also decide whether to stick with Julian Dicks after a poor performance in the defeat against Charlton or bring in Andy Impey.

Javier Margas is now back in training but Stan Lazaridis is still out with a groin strain.

Sheffield v Southampton

Italian striker Benito Carbone is Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson's only doubt for the Hillsborough visit of the Premiership's bottom club Southampton.

Carbone remains troubled by a persistent ankle problem which forced him out of last Saturday's goalless home draw with Everton and led to him having a painkilling injection in the defeat at Coventry the week before.

With Petter Rudi having recovered from a damaged hamstring and fellow midfielder Graham Hyde back after a three-match ban, Wilson has his largest squad to choose from since he first arrived at Wednesday in the summer.

Only Paolo Di Canio (suspension), Ian Nolan (leg) and Earl Barrett (knee) are certainties not to be in the squad.

Captain Jason Dodd is still ruled out for Southampton - through injury.

Defender Scott Hiley keeps his place in defence with Dodd having failed to recover from the ankle injury which has forced him to miss the last four games.

Ex-Spurs star David Howells is expected to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in last weekend's 2-1 victory against Coventry to take his place in midfield which will mean Carlton Palmer is again confined to the substitutes bench for the game against his old team.

Wimbledon v Blackburn

Wimbledon should have their Nigerian international striker Efan Ekoku back after injury for Blackburn's visit .

Michael Hughes is struggling with a long-term groin injury but will play against the pain. Andy Roberts will miss the next fortnight of action with a cracked rib.

New boy Nathan Blake has given Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson a selection headache ahead of Saturday's trip to Wimbledon following his £4.25m switch from Bolton on Friday.

The Welsh international striker has signed in time to play but Hodgson has yet to decide whether he will oust Chris Sutton or Kevin Davies in attack.

Blackburn's other recent acquisition, on-loan Italian midfielder Dario Marcolin, is unlikely to feature due to a hitch on his international clearance.