Arsenal gun for Chelsea

LONDON - Arsenal will be out to leapfrog a free-falling Chelsea side at the top of the English Premier League tomorrow.

Arsene Wenger's side are just two points behind Chelsea, who have lost their past two league games and with a host of injury problems face a tough trip to Birmingham City.

The Gunners welcome local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium knowing victory could take them to the top of the table if Chelsea slip up again.

Tottenham have faltered slightly after a superb start to the season but in Gareth Bale they arguably have the player of the season to date. The midfielder will face his former Southampton teammate Theo Walcott, and the Arsenal man named Bale as the most exciting player in the league at the moment.

"I am actually looking forward to playing against Gareth Bale because me and him grew up together at Southampton and we've known each other since we were 10 or 11 years old," Walcott said. "So it's going to be another nice little treat for us both."

To go to the top Arsenal need Chelsea to slip up. But after following a defeat at Liverpool with a stunning 3-0 loss at home to Sunderland, they are struggling to get back on track. Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are among those still injured and Birmingham manager Alex McLeish believes his side are good enough to inflict a third straight defeat on the leaders.

"I don't think we will pip Chelsea for the league but can we win a home game against Chelsea? That's achievable," he said.