ROVERS return to league action tonight when Arsenal visit Ewood for a crucial Premiership clash.

And manager Graeme Souness is calling on his players to repeat the kind of form they have shown in the knockout competitions recently against the in-form Gunners.

Despite Rovers' success in the two cups this season, they have gradually been sucked into the relegation quagmire after winning just two of their last 11 league games.

However, Souness is adamant Rovers are better than their points total suggests and he is confident they will pull clear.

"Our destiny is in our own hands and I've said all along that I think we're better than our points tell us," he said.

"But you're never too good to go down. If you do go down it's because you deserve to go down.

"It's like if you win a league; you win it because you are the best team around.

"Likewise, if you get relegated you don't go down by accident. But I would suggest the team spirit and atmosphere here is different to the last time the club found themselves in a very difficult situation."

Arsenal go into tonight's game boasting the worst disciplinary record in the top two leagues.

Martin Keown and Dennis Bergkamp were the latest to see red when they were dismissed against Liverpool on Sunday.

But former midfield hard man Souness insists they are simply competitive rather than dirty and claims it is much easier to pick up red and yellow cards than it was in his day.

"They're competitive, and the way the game is there's going to be more red cards and yellow cards than there were several years ago," said the Blackburn manager.

"But that's football today. We live in it and we have to get on with it.

"I wouldn't say they're a dirty team - they are a competitive team.

"They wouldn't be at the top of the league if they weren't competitive. If they were just all pretty football they wouldn't be at the top of the league."

Rovers, who have drawn at Highbury in the league and beaten Arsenal at home in the Worthington Cup, are still missing David Dunn through injury.

And Keith Gillespie remains a serious doubt following a bout of flu.

Rovers are expected to choose from: Friedel, Curtis, Neill, Bjornebye, Taylor, Johansson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Hignett, Duff, Mahon, Jansen, Cole, Hughes, Short, Berg, Johnson, Kelly.