Arsenal will be looking to continue their fine form in the Premier League when they host Birmingham City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It's not everyday that you can say the following: How Arsenal would love to be in Birmingham City’s position! Well, financially at least.

The Blues, fresh from their takeover by Honh Kond businessman Carson Yeung, have been given the green light to spend up to £40million on new players during the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, over in North London manager Arsene Wenger maintains that whoever owns the club must maintain a prudent approach to financial dealings. So you'd be forgiven for thinking that Saturday's match is a rich v poor clash.

On the field Wenger's men are flying high after demolitioning Blackburn 6-2 a fortnight ago to secure their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions and move to within six points of leaders Chelsea.

The reversal of form comes on the back of back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City last month when the Gunners where surprisingly dismissed as title contenders.

Alex McLeish's men on the other hand will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Burnley which has left them in 14th place and perilously close to the drop zone.

As many will recall Arsenal and Birmingham have history, not just via the Eduardo/Gallas events two season's ago, but also the fact that the Blues took four points off the Gunners in 2007 - the very same amount of points Manchester United pipped them to the title by!

Team News:

Arsenal are set to recall Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia despite the glowing performances of young Italian Vito Mannone.

Gael Clichy and Eduardo are set to miss out after returning back from international duty with ankle and thigh injuries respectively.

Midfielder Samir Nasri is still out with a broken leg although winger Theo Walcott and Thomas Rosicky are ready to step in.

Birmingham City have a lengthy injury list to contend with as Franck Queudrue, Keith Fahey and striker Christian Benitez are all out injured, although Cameron Jerome is available after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Defenders David Murphy, Gregory Vignal, Stuart Parnaby and Martin Taylor remain long-term absentees.

Probable Starting XI's (*Star Man):

Arsenal (4-3-3): Almunia; Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Gibbs; Song, Fabregas*, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin, Van Persie.

Birmingham City (4-5-1): Hart; Tainio, Dann, Johnson, Carr; Larsson, Carsley, Bowyer, Ferguson, McFadden*; O'Connor

ExtraFootie Prediction: Arsenal 3 - 0 Birmingham - Fabregas and Co. may have been on international duty over the past 10 days but don't expect the Blues to upset Arsenal's new found rhythm too much.