Arsenal will look to further solidify their title credentials when they take on reigning champions Chelsea who need to restore some much needed pride.
This clash takes on significant importance for the Gunners, who will look to capitalise on Manchester City’s slip up against West Ham overnight and to also keep pace with ladder leaders Leicester City.
After a conceding a costly late equaliser to Liverpool and drawing blanks at Stoke City in their previous two outings, it is crucial that Arsene Wenger’s side return to the winners circle, this opportunity to heap further misery on a beleaguered Chelsea outfit and seek revenge from the spiteful encounter back in September should be added incentives for the North Londoners.
It has been a horrid season for the Blues, who are currently languishing in 14th position and still look a side bereft of confidence and belief. The appointment of Guus Hiddink following the sacking of Jose Mourinho has seen the West Londoners go seven games unbeaten, but two home draws to West Brom and Everton have failed to indicate that the club have fully turned the corner.
Chelsea will look to maintain their stronghold of this fixture, having now gone eight games unbeaten against their London compatriots. There is no love lost between these two bitter foes, and Sunday’s dual will provide another feisty contest despite their contrasting fortunes.
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Key Battles – John Terry/Olivier Giroud and Diego Costa/Laurent Koscielny
Once criticised for his lack of output in big games, Olivier Giroud has become reliable source of goals in crunch games for Arsenal, having now scored against Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and against Bayern Munich both home and away in the Champions League.
However, there is one team that he has struggled to breach, and thats Chelsea. The Blues watertight defence led by John Terry has made life extremely difficult for Giroud in the past, but with the much improved Frenchman in fine form and a Chelsea defence frequently leaking goals, Giroud will be seeing this game as a great opportunity to break his duck and continue to prove the doubters wrong.
Arsenal have not scored in eight hours and two minutes against their neighbours, a testament to the Blues’ unbreakable defensive unit. With goals so scare against the West Londoners, Giroud will looking to end his own drought, which will in tern end the team’s collective struggles in front of goal.
The last time these two did battle will be remembered for the controversial display of gamesmanship from striker Diego Costa, who successfully got under the skin of the Arsenal defence both physically and verbally. Costa has found form under Hiddink netting five in his past five matches after scoring just four in his previous 21 before the arrival of the Dutchman.
He will provide a thorough examination for the Gunners defence who are now be well aware of the Spaniard’s ability to wind up opponents. Costa and Laurent Koscielny were locked in a bruising episode in their previous dual, and the Frenchman will need to draw on all his experience and composure to avoid being provoked by the hitman’s antics.
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Team News
Arsenal injury news is usually surrounded with doom and gloom, but this week was one of the most positive updates in quite sometime, with star’s Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez both look set to return to the starting lineup. Sanchez has been wrapped up in cotton wool after injury his hamstring two months ago, but is set to be unleashed on Sunday in what is a massive boost for the club.
Wenger faces a difficult decision whether to drop the out of sorts Theo Walcott or the resurgent Joel Campbell due to the return of the Sanchez. Expect Wenger to go with the experience of Walcott, which is hard on Campbell, who has stepped up immensely in the absence of the influential Chilean.
It was also revealed that Francis Coquelin has returned to full training ahead of schedule, with Danny Welbeck also tipped to return next week, while Tomas Rosicky played 45 minutes for Arsenal’s U21’s side.
Star duo Costa and Eden Hazard have both been passed fit for the trip to the Emirates. The striker has recovered from a bruised shin he sustained against Everton, while Hazard has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury. Radamel Falcao is still out with a Thigh injury,
Head-to-head
Chelsea have travelled to Arsenal 85 times, winning 23 compared to the Gunners 39. As previously mentioned, the Blues have dominated this fixture in recent years losing just three of the past 17 meetings. The last time Arsenal beat Chelsea at home was in 2010, with three of the past four encounters at the Emirates ending in 0-0 draws.
Previous Meeting
Chelsea won their second game of the season with a 2-0 win over nine man Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, in a match marred by poor refereeing and ill feeling between the two clubs. The last time the two met at the Emirates was back in April when the Blues held the Gunners to a goalless draw to inch closer towards winning their fourth Premier League crown.
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Prediction
The scene is set for Arsenal to make another big statement in their title quest. The return of key players is a timely boost in what is a must win game for the Gunners. Under Mourinho the Blues continually frustrated the home side with his defensive minded tactics, how Hiddink plays it should be intriguing, especially as he inflicted Arsenal’s heaviest defeat in a Premier League game in his previous stint at the club. The quality of some of their under-performing stars is still enough to cause Wenger some major headaches, whether they have the desire to match is another question. At home Arsenal will put in a performance that is truly reflective of the two club’s respective campaigns.
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0
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