SAM Allardyce and his players have agreed to disagree over their Champions League prospects.

For while the Wanderers boss insists that fifth in the Premiership is the best they can hope for, more members of his squad are subscribing to El-Hadji Diouf 's belief that fourth spot is still within their grasp.

Now there is a difference of opinion over their chances in Saturday's showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Big Sam says a win is "unlikely", but many of his senior players beg to differ. They are going to North London believing they can claim a victory that would see them leapfrog the Gunners and make it a fight to the finish.

Arsenal suffered a third successive demoralising defeat on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 by relegation-threatened West Ham - their first defeat at their impressive new stadium. And, although they ended the losing run with a scoreless draw at Newcastle on Monday, there is a feeling in the Wanderers camp that the Gunners are looking more vulnerable now than they have at any time this season.

"I think they are," Kevin Davies said, stoking up the pressure, "especially losing at home to West Ham. That was a brilliant result for us.

"We felt they would have lost at Newcastle too, so that was probably a good point for them. But we'll go down there and see what happens."

Wanderers have already frustrated Arsenal at The Emirates, drawing 1-1 there in the FA Cup in January. And, although the Gunners won the replay, 3-1 in extra-time, they found the Reebok a less intimidating place without having to contend with the combative Davies, who broke his foot in the first game.

But he's back in harness and anticipating another full-blooded contest.

"All the pressure will be on Arsenal, because they are expected to get into the Champions League," he added.

"But we proved in the Cup that we can go there and get a result and we're really looking forward to Saturday.

"We are in a fabulous position with five games left. We could be stuck somewhere in mid-table with no chance, but we've hung in there and we're in fifth spot, right behind the big four, and we're going to give it a good go.

"We've said the same in past seasons when we've been in similar positions but this time we don't just want to talk about it, we want to go and do it."

Allardyce, however, is doing his utmost to keep the pressure off his players.

Having already suggested that Wanderers are "not big enough" for the Champions League, he now says he expects nothing better than a draw at The Emirates - and reckons his players will have to be at their best even to achieve that.

"Our next three game are particularly difficult," he said, looking beyond The Emirates to the home game against Reading and the trip to Chelsea, "We have to keep our form and try to reproduce the performances we have done in the past at Arsenal, without thinking we are going to win it.

"We probably won't, because only West Ham have won there, and they were very fortuitous with that. It was probably a one-off.

"We can get a result - we've proven that in the past - but every player has to commit like they did against Everton and keep their organisation and shape, and find the quality of finishing we have seen in the last three matches."

Gary Speed, who played in the Champions League for Newcastle, sees no reason why Wanderers should be put off targeting a top four finish.

"Sam said in the papers that we're not ready for the Champions League, and he'll know better than me," said the veteran midfielder who has stood in as captain while Kevin Nolan served a two-match ban.

"Really a UEFA Cup spot is what we're after but if that turns into a Champions League spot, then great."