Patrick Vieira proved at Upton Park in September that he can keep within spitting distance of opponents, so it is appropriate that he returns for Arsenal against Leeds this afternoon. Simply, Arsenal must win to stay in touch with the leaders.
Defeat at Highbury would leave them 11 points adrift of David O'Leary's team. And although they were a further point behind Manchester United (with a game in hand) at the end of 1997 and won the title, Arsene Wenger believes his side currently lack the consistency and defensive strength for a repeat.
Vieira's return, after a seven-match domestic ban for his altercation with Neil Ruddock, may help. He takes the place in midfield of the injured Gilles Grimandi.
"I am happy he is back because he is a winner, and from a mental and physical point of view he will be fresh," Wenger said. "He has a great presence and a huge desire to succeed.
"I think he has learned a lot while out of the team. He will come back calmer. I have spoken to him about that aspect of his game. He knows he has to, and he has had seven games to think about the importance."
The way Arsenal were troubled by the pace of Coventry's forwards in their 3-2 defeat at Highfield Road on Sunday hardly bodes well for the visit of a team whose energy and pace are almost unrivalled.
Wenger has hinted he will make further changes to counteract a side he believes can win the championship. Leeds seem to believe the same, although they will be without Alan Smith and have a doubt over Darren Huckerby (ankle).
"We've had a lot of big games recently so we're getting used to them and we think we will come up trumps in the end," said the midfielder Stephen McPhail. "We showed when we went to Chelsea that we have courage and discipline."
At the opposite end of the table, Watford have a chance to end their miserable run when they play host to Southampton. Dave Jones' team have not won in the league since November 6th and are without striker Marians Pahars and midfielder Matthew Oakley. Kevin Davies is likely to play up front.
Derby welcome back Avi Nimni for their game at West Ham, whose doubtful list includes Steve Lomas (groin) and Neil Ruddock (face). "We have to get something at West Ham," said Derby's manager Jim Smith. "It's crunch time."
Bradford (4-0 losers on Sunday) play at home to Everton (5-0 winners) and are likely to restore Dean Saunders to a two-man attack.
Wimbledon hope to have Carl Cort back at Liverpool, for whom Stephane Henchoz is available after suspension.
Kieron Dyer misses Newcastle's game at Leicester with a groin injury.
Alex Ferguson has a tip for any ambitious manager: look down on your club's ground from its highest point and consider its potential. If you can find a better view elsewhere, move on.
The West Stand at the Stadium of Light, which rises from the cranes and dockside detritus of the Wear, has well over half the total capacity of Sunderland's previous ground, Roker Park, which by the time it closed in 1997 boasted a resonant name but little else.
Clement Attlee was the British prime minister when Sunderland last finished third in the top division, in 1950, a position that, despite the St Stephen's Day debacle at Everton, they still occupy this morning as they prepare to face United tonight.
That 5-0 thrashing at Goodison was the first league game they had started this season without Kevin Phillips, the Premiership's leading goal-scorer, and without him they looked neutered.
Phillips, who had a strained hamstring, may train this morning but will not play unless fully fit. "He is too important to us to be risked," said Peter Reid. "But the Everton game brings things into perspective. If you had told me we would be third at the halfway point of the season I'd have sent you to the loony-bin."
Sunderland's manager does not anticipate a New Year slide. "It is the way you respond to defeat that matters, and I don't think I will need any of my so-called motivational qualities (against United). I don't anticipate having to say anything much before the game, just as I didn't when we went out and beat Chelsea.
"We won't be afraid to attack, but it won't be gung-ho. I was in the Everton team which went to Bayern Munich (in 1985) and stopped Augenthaler and Matthaus at their peak. I am not easily overawed and nor is my team."
United hope Ryan Giggs will recover from flu, and are expected to start with Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.
Tonight's game with United is a 42,000 sell-out and the club arranged a ballot to distribute the 6,000 seats it reserves for non-season ticket holders. Sunderland could, like Newcastle, have made entry dependent on buying a season ticket, but the Wearsiders are more benign than most clubs.
A decision to slash the price of replica shirts from more than Stg £40 to £29 outraged shopkeepers but led to 50-deep queues in Sunderland's one department store.
