Arsenal will be desperately hoping to avoid another slip-up when they take on another of the Premiership high-fliers, Sunderland, at Highbury on Saturday.

Since champions Manchester United left for Brazil, the Gunners have dropped vital points in the title race and were held to a draw by Leicester in the FA Cup.

And the latest Highbury howler is manager Arsene Wenger's admission that he was caught out by Chelsea's swoop for his former colleague George Weah.

The former World Player of the Year was a member of Wenger's Monaco side and has long been linked with a move to Arsenal.

"I know he would love to play for Arsenal," said Wenger, "but when I looked at the transfer market two weeks ago there was nothing to interest me.

"Then when I looked again this week it was too late. He had signed already for Chelsea.

"I don't know what the financial terms were for his loan - not exactly cheap I expect - and it not usually the kind of thing we would do but we are very short of strikers at the moment, especially now that we know Davor Suker will miss the Manchester United game a week on Monday through suspension."

Wenger has major problems ahead of the visit of Sunderland.

Flu victim Emmanuel Petit has been virtually ruled out of a side that is already without injured Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars plus Nigerian ace Kanu, who is on African Nations Cup duty.

Ray Parlour is available to replace Petit in midfield after six weeks out with ankle trouble. Irish teenage striker Graham Barrett, who has only two minutes of first-team experience, will be on the bench.

Sunderland's recent Premiership form has seen their spirited campaign falter somewhat.

But Peter Reid's outfit will be at full strength as they bid to improve on a dismal return of just one point from three Premiership games.

Niall Quinn has recovered from an ankle injury and returns to face his former club alongside Kevin Phillips.

Former Gunner Steve Bould and Michael Gray have also overcome injury while Kevin Kilbane comes into contention after being cup-tied at Tranmere.

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Chelsea v Leicester

All eyes will be on the Chelsea forward line when Leicester visit Stamford Bridge.

Gianfranco Zola is waiting anxiously to see whether he is restored to the team after being dropped for the first time in his Chelsea career against Spurs on Wednesday.

But the signs do not look promising for the Italian, with new signing George Weah set to start his first 90 minutes for the Blues after his winner on Wednesday.

There is no rest for Leicester, who have been hit by a spate of injuries, following their cup heorics against Arsenal and Fulham this week.

Gerry Taggart, Tony Cottee and Robbie Savage are doubtful, while Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Steve Walsh and Andy Impey are definitely out of contention.

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Coventry v Wimbledon

Coventry's preparations have been hampered by the absence of key Moroccan midfielders Mustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo, who are on African Nations Cup duty.

Noel Whelan and Tomas Gustafsson are expected to replace them.

Otherwise, though, Coventry expect to be unchanged from the side which beat Burnley in the FA Cup last week.

Wimbledon's Egil Olsen is another manager facing a lengthy winter injury crisis.

Striker Marcus Gayle is the latest absentee with an ankle complaint, but Alan Kimble returns following injury. absence and the veteran full-back will be drafted into the starting line-up.

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Everton v Tottenham

Richard Gough is a doubtful starter for Everton because of a leg injury, so another veteran cente-back, Dave Watson, stands by.

Richard Dunne, who suffered a muscle strain against Birmingham in the FA Cup, is another worry. Oyvind Leonhardsen (groin), Steffen Freund (hamstring) and Les Ferdinand (Achilles) are still not ready to return for Spurs and Mauricio Taricco is out again with flu after missing Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

But George Graham is set to include Willem Korsten among his substitutes with the Dutchman hoping to making a long-awaited debut since arriving last summer.

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Middlesbrough v Derby

Middlesbrough welcome back three of their most experienced internationals for the visit of struggling Derby.

Paul Ince is fit again after surgery on a hernia, while Gary Pallister and Paul Gascoigne return from back and thigh injuries respectively.

But Colin Cooper (knee), Keith O'Neill (back) and Christian Ziege (knee) are still out and striker Brian Deane is suspended.

Mikkel Beck could return for Derby against his old club, but faces a contest with Deon Burton for a place up front alongside Marvin Robinson, with first-choice striker Branko Strupar suspended.

Jacob Laursen and Spencer Prior are also banned, while Tony Dorigo (calf) and Dean Sturridge (hamstring) are definitely out.

But Seth Johnson returns at left wing-back following suspension.

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Sheff Wed v Bradford

Simon Donnelly could start his first game for Sheffield Wednesday for almost four months after recovering from an ankle injury.

But the basement club will definitely be withouth winger Mark McKeever, who has a foot injury - and striker Andy Booth (groin strain) and midfielder Petter Rudi (Achilles problem) are both doubtful.

Wednesday, though, are confident Gilles De Bilde, Des Walker and Ian Nolan will all have recovered from flu.

Bradford manager Paul Jewell will recall central defender David Wetherall, who was suspened for Tuesday's humbling FA Cup defeat at Gillingham, in place of Ashley Westwood.

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Watford v Liverpool

Watford's record signing Heidar Helguson is aiming to make his debut.

The £1.5m striker has not played since the end of October but Graham Taylor is willing to throw him in because the Hornets have seven senior players sidelined through injury and Neil Cox and Micah Hyde suspended.

Allan Smart has recovered from a knee injury but is unlikely to start.

Liverpool, smarting from their FA Cup defeat by Blackburn, will be desperate to avenge their defeat by Watford at Anfield earlier in the season.

Michael Owen is in contention for a recall after resuming full training on Thursday following his hamstring injury.

But Owen's strike partner Robbie Fowler, Jamie Redknapp and Erik Meijer are still sidelined and are likely to be joined by Veggard Heggem on the sidelines. Rigobert Song is on international duty with Cameroon.

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West Ham v Aston Villa

The Premiership's claret and blue teams meet yet again, just days after Villa won their Worthington Cup rematch in dramatic fashion.

Trevor Sinclair and Paulo Wanchope, who were both missing mid-week, are in contention after coming through a training session.

Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is doubtful with flu but his deputy Craig Forrest is back from international duty with Canada.

Villa recall Italian striker Benito Carbone - who was cup-tied on Tuesday - and he rejoins Julian Joachim in attack with former England international Steve Stone in danger of losing his place.