Premier League: Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview

LEE Carsley could be asked to produce another classic man-marking job on Dutch master Dennis Bergkamp at Highbury tonight.

Rovers boss Brian Kidd looks set to unleash the £3.375 million midfielder for his first start, after an appearance as substitute in the second half of Saturday's draw with Middlesbrough.

And Bergkamp, expected to return after illness for Arsenal, will still have not-so-fond memories of the last time the pair met.

In his last appearance for Derby, Carsley stamped his defensive authority on Bergkamp in a tough, tense FA Cup quarter final at Highbury.

Arsenal sneaked through, thanks to a last-gasp goal from sub Nwanko Kanu, but Carsley won his individual battle and labelled the Dutchman a "whinger" for his reaction to their one-to-one confrontation.

The points are crucial to both sides tonight, albeit for different reasons. And Highbury boss Arsene Wenger, disappointed at taking only one point from the Dell on Saturday, expects another demanding battle.

"Although we should have beaten Southampton with better finishing, we still won a point which is not too bad against a side that fought as hard as they did," said the Frenchman.

"Blackburn will fight hard too, because they are another team who need to get away from the relegation zone.

"But all we can do is our best to break them down. It will be difficult, but Manchester United and Chelsea face the same problems."

Bergkamp, however, is just one of many threats to Rovers' hopes.

There is Nicolas Anelka, possibly Marc Overmars and England's latest recruit Ray Parlour who is very much the man of the moment at Highbury.

Named by the Arsenal fans as player of the player at the end of 1998, Parlour made his belated England debut against Poland and has just picked up another prize - the Carling player of the month trophy.

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