Arsenal v Manchester City (Kick-off, 8.0; On television: Sky Sports 1): Arsenal's main task at Highbury tonight will be to fend of the threat of their former striker Nicolas Anelka.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he hoped the crowd would give Anelka a "positive" welcome.

"I believe he's now back," he said. "He's more mature. He's gone through a difficult period and he might find the right balance.

"I feel he's made a big step forward, mainly mentally. Football-wise, I never had any worry for him. But when you have a transfer on your shoulders of £22million at the age of 19 and you go to Real Madrid, that's not easy." Wenger will be without Ray Parlour and Lauren, but has Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Sol Campbell available after injury.

City will also have to contend with the pace of Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord who was named as the first Premiership player of the month of the new season.

Wiltord picked up the accolade having scored four league goals in four games which have helped Arsenal climb to second in the table. The award rounds off an impressive few weeks for Wiltord, who also scored the winner in France's opening Euro 2004 qualifier against Cyprus on Saturday.

City manager Kevin Keegan has yet to decide whether to play Anelka as a lone striker - as he did on the opening day against Leeds - or use Darren Huckerby alongside him, the formation which has brought City successive home wins over Newcastle and Everton.

Apart from long-term casualties Jon Macken and Paulo Wanchope, City will be at full strength and desperate to atone for their 5-0 drubbing on their previous trip two years ago.

Middlesbrough v Sunderland (Kick-off 7.45)

Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer will throw himself into the battle for derby honours tonight confident that he has the best defence yet in front of him.

The 29-year-old Australian has lined up behind the likes of Middlesbrough stalwarts Gary Pallister, Nigel Pearson and Colin Cooper, but believes the current quartet of Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu, Franck Queudrue and Robbie Stockdale is as good a unit as he has worked with during his five and a half years on Teesside.

That back four will run out at the Riverside Stadium tonight determined to enhance their reputation by containing a Sunderland strikeforce of Kevin Phillips and, if selected, new signing Tore Andre Flo. But Schwarzer is confident that a relationship established over the last 11 months or so will again prove a solid foundation.

Middlesbrough yesterday completed the signing of Australia international defender Tony Vidmar. They were able to recruit the former Rangers player after the transfer deadline because he was out of contract with his former club. The 33-year-old will go straight into tonight's squad.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid is looking to build on two impressive performances at the Riverside tonight.

Sunderland followed up a first win of the season at Leeds on August 28th by holding Manchester United to a draw at the Stadium of Light. Reid also believes the arrival of strikers Tore Andre Flo from Rangers and Ipswich's Marcus Stewart has given the players and the supporters a tremendous lift.