Middlesbrough's bid to escape from the bottom three in the Premier League is faced with a massive hurdle as Gareth Southgate's side visit Arsenal.

The Gunners' form has been improving in recent weeks and the prize of Champions League glory means that they still have everything to play for.

That was evident in midweek when Arsene Wenger's side played out a thrilling 4-4 draw at Anfield, denting Liverpool's title hopes in the process - while the game also saw Andrey Arshavin show his doubters they were wrong by scoring four times.

The Russian's efforts made up for the absences of both Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie due to injuries, with both men remaining doubtful for the weekend.

William Gallas is out until next season due to a knee injury, while goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and left-back Gael Clichy are unlikely to return in time to face Boro.

The result on Merseyside brought an end to a five-match winning streak in the Premier League, an impressive statistic which has seen the Gunners ensure that they will again finish in the top four.

The worries for Boro boss Southgate are of a rather different sort, with his side three points adrift of safety and having won only seven league games all season.

Last time out they drew 0-0 at home to Fulham, with Southgate again opting for an ultra-attacking line-up which included Jeremie Aliadiere, Tuncay, Marlon King and Afonso Alves.

However, he has more options for this weekend, with Dider Digard back to full fitness and Gary O'Neil free from suspension.

Despite that gamble not paying off, the Riverside manager said after the game: "Everybody will look at our fixtures and feel that we are gone, but we are still just managing to hang in there.

"You just don't know what can happen in football, you really don't. The one thing we know is that we are going to fight right through and see where it takes us."

Southgate has only one major injury problem, with Emanuel Pogatetz a definite absentee due to a knee injury.