Keane stokes the fire ahead of the north London derby

It's all eyes on north London this weekend as Arsenal entertain their local rivals Spurs in a clash that should, for once, be an even contest. The sides are level on points in the Premier League, both on 19, and lie in third and fourth place, although the Gunners have a game in hand, they also both booked places in the last eight of the Carling Cup this week.

Arsenal must still be favourites going into the game, but they remain vulnerable. Last week they threw away a two-goal lead at West Ham and conceded a last minute equaliser against AZ Alkmaar. They have also been outmuscled by both the Manchester teams this season - much to the chagrin of captain Cesc Fabregas.

Spurs striker Robbie Keane stoked the fires ahead of the Saturday lunchtime clash when he commented: "If you look at the two squads, you look at us and think we're definitely on a par with them." But although Spurs began the season at a gallop they have lost some momentum recently and were beaten at home by Stoke last weekend.

If Arsenal do win it will take them above their bitter rivals for the first time since the first week of the season.

League leaders Chelsea play Bolton for the second time in four days on Saturday. After demolishing the Trotters 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup on Wednesday they head north to the Reebok Stadium for the league encounter.

Few would bet against a similar scoreline this time out, particularly as Carlo Ancelotti will roll out the big guns having left John Terry, Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka out of the midweek squad and demoted Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba to the subs bench.

Second-placed Manchester United entertain local rivals Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford, knowing that if fellow Lancastrians Bolton do pull off a miracle against Chelsea a win will send them top. Blackburn have enough on their plate without a visit to the league champions, the club has been hit with swine flu with several players said to be ill. Boss Sam Allardyce watched Rovers' Carling Cup win over Peterborough from the stands as a precaution.

Resurgent Liverpool head to West London to take on Fulham with everything suddenly looking a lot more rosy for Rafa Benitez. Last weekend's victory over Manchester United ended a run of four straight defeats and despite losing to Arsenal in the cup in midweek, the clubs big summer signing Alberto Aquilani finally took his bow for the first team. A win could see Liverpool up to third and right back into the title chase.

Further down the table Saturday's games will be a test of character for the likes of Hull, West Ham, Portsmouth and Wigan. The latter two clubs play each other at Fratton Park with rock-bottom Pompey reeling from the news that they have been hit with a transfer ban over debts owed to other English clubs. Their opponents Wigan are facing up to life without striker Marlon King - who has been jailed for 18 months for breaking a woman's nose in a nightclub.

West Ham are also dealing with bad news about one of their players. Calum Davenport, who almost lost a leg after being stabbed in a fight in August, has now been charged by police with assaulting his sister before the incident. His team mates travel to Sunderland on Saturday.

At Hull, confusion reigns over the club's future after chairman Paul Duffen resigned on Thursday. Manager Phil Brown is confident of keeping his job although the Tigers were forced to deny this week that Brown had been sacked following a run of poor results. Former Hull chairman Adam Pearson has been linked with a return to the KC Stadium to replace Duffen after he stood down as Derby chairman on Wednesday. The Tigers take on newly promoted Burnley on Saturday.

The weekend's other games see Aston Villa entertain struggling Everton, Stoke take on Wolves and Manchester City travel to Birmingham on Sunday. ·