Arsenal v Chelsea Premiership 4pm match Although this match is a clash of 2 of the strongest teams in Europe, managed by 2 of the most respected managers in the modern game, there is a strong sense of anti-climax and disappointment surrounding the fixture. As all fans of football will be aware, both sides exited the Champions League earlier this week. Arsenal’s defence simply wasn’t good enough from the outset and they conceded 3 goals to Manchester United, Chelsea’s road to ruin was a lot more contentious involving questionable refereeing decision. However the end result for both teams was the same: disappointment, recriminations and no final in Rome. Prior to this week’s events both teams had also acknowledged they were also effectively out of the Premiership title race.
Both Hiddink and Wenger have however been quick to state that their teams have the strength of character to bounce back from the week’s disappointment and they will be keen to get a result as evidence of this. Arsenal also has the added incentive of potentially catching Chelsea in third place; currently 6 points separate the teams. Wenger has the home advantage over his Dutch rival, which Chelsea has never managed to overturn at the Emirates. The Gooners also have superior Premiership form within the elite 4 clique; they are to date unbeaten by the other 3 teams, including a victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, and could along with Liverpool do the double over the Blues. In contrast the only point Chelsea has won against top four opposition is courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on 21 September. Hiddink’s team will however take comfort from the fact that during their most recent encounter, Chelsea were victorious and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
Unfortunately for the Gooners, Andrey Arshavin has not been able to train due to a virus and is therefore unavailable. Clichy (back), Eduardo (groin) and former Chelsea defender Gallas (knee) are also out for the rest of the season. Wenger will however almost certainly be demonstrating his confidence in Gibb, whose mid-week slip led to conceding the first goal against the Red Devils and effectively ended the contest, "The best thing to do in that situation sometimes is to give them straight away the chance again to play."
Chelsea are likely to be without Drogba after he picked up an ankle injury in the Champions League defeat and Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are out with knee ligament injuries.
Predicting the result for this afternoon’s clash is a difficult one; in the words of Wenger "[It] will be down to the team who deals best with the disappointment, who wants it more and who has more strength of character.” Let’s go with 2:2 for now then!!
Both Hiddink and Wenger have however been quick to state that their teams have the strength of character to bounce back from the week’s disappointment and they will be keen to get a result as evidence of this. Arsenal also has the added incentive of potentially catching Chelsea in third place; currently 6 points separate the teams. Wenger has the home advantage over his Dutch rival, which Chelsea has never managed to overturn at the Emirates. The Gooners also have superior Premiership form within the elite 4 clique; they are to date unbeaten by the other 3 teams, including a victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, and could along with Liverpool do the double over the Blues. In contrast the only point Chelsea has won against top four opposition is courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on 21 September. Hiddink’s team will however take comfort from the fact that during their most recent encounter, Chelsea were victorious and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
Unfortunately for the Gooners, Andrey Arshavin has not been able to train due to a virus and is therefore unavailable. Clichy (back), Eduardo (groin) and former Chelsea defender Gallas (knee) are also out for the rest of the season. Wenger will however almost certainly be demonstrating his confidence in Gibb, whose mid-week slip led to conceding the first goal against the Red Devils and effectively ended the contest, "The best thing to do in that situation sometimes is to give them straight away the chance again to play."
Chelsea are likely to be without Drogba after he picked up an ankle injury in the Champions League defeat and Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are out with knee ligament injuries.
Predicting the result for this afternoon’s clash is a difficult one; in the words of Wenger "[It] will be down to the team who deals best with the disappointment, who wants it more and who has more strength of character.” Let’s go with 2:2 for now then!!