Arsenal v Leeds
Gilberto Silva was passed fit to strengthen Arsenal's bid to keep their fading title hopes alive at home to Leeds today.
Gilberto was exhausted by a midweek game in Mexico with Brazil, but the absences of Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Pascal Cygan, Francis Jeffers and Edu rather forced Arsene Wenger's hand.
Gilberto therefore lined up in central midfield alongside Ray Parlour, while Oleg Luzhny and Kolo Toure were drafted in to a weakened defence.
Arsenal, who now trail Manchester United by eight points with two games in hand, needed a win at Highbury just to keep the title race going until the final week of the season.
Leeds, meanwhile, had just as much to play for but for very different reasons.
West Ham's victory against Chelsea yesterday had ensured that Peter Reid's side still had to escape the threat of relegation.
Indeed, defeat at Highbury would leave the Yorkshire club still level on points with West Ham and Bolton, but just ahead on goal difference and with a home game against Aston Villa next weekend.
Leeds were nevertheless aiming to make sure of survival with one game left, although they were without striker Alan Smith and defender Lucas Radebe replaced him amid a slight reshuffle.