BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has set his players a minimum target of at least two wins over the festive period.

Hughes believes the outcome of the next four games will ultimately decide if Rovers are going to be a top or bottom half team this term, so three points at Arsenal tomorrow would be a perfect early Christmas present.

"We've got some big games coming up - Arsenal, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Wigan as well," said the Rovers boss.

"We've got four games in a really short period of time and they will have a real bearing on how the league shapes up going into the New Year.

"It's important then that we put some points on the board. We certainly feel as though we are capable of doing that.

"We had a decent run at Christmas last year, we put three or four back-to-back results together, so if we can do the same again I'd be delighted.

"It's a tough ask but we played well at Reading last week, and that followed up a good result in Europe, so we're hoping to make it three or four wins on the spin."

Although Rovers enter the Christmas period in 16th position in the Premiership, just two points above the relegation zone, they are only two points worse off than at the same stage last season.

Nevertheless, Hughes is well aware of the need to ease away from the dog-fight at the bottom, which is why it's vital Rovers take something from their first ever visit to The Emirates Stadium this weekend.

Arsenal are still unbeaten in the Premiership at their new home, but they have struggled to convert draws into wins, with five of their nine league games to date finishing all square.

Encouraged by that record, an upbeat Hughes said: "Maybe (they've lost a little bit of that air of invincibility) but only because the stadium's new to everybody. It could be a touch of the Millennium factor, as I used to call it.

"When I was the manager of Wales, I always used to try and get to see the opposition training or walking into the Millennium Stadium for the first time and, invariably, they'd be looking around at the roof and enjoying the surroundings, and you'd think to yourself maybe they might do that come kick-off time.

"We've got to guard against that, too, but I don't think for a moment that will happen to us because we need points and need to be positive.

"We had a good result on the road at Reading last week and we're looking to build on that."