Sunday afternoon will see the Premier League’s top two sides Arsenal and Chelsea lock horns in a mouthwatering clash at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have enjoyed a rich vein of form in recent months, now finding themselves second in the league with the slightest of mathematical chances of mounting an unlikely late surge for the title. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea meanwhile, have been in scintillating dominance for most of the season, and have been top of the pile nearly the entire campaign.
Arsenal come into Sunday’s crunch-clash with Chelsea fresh from emerging victorious in extra-time over Reading in their FA Cup Semi-final, leaving them with only one last hurdle to overcome in their quest to win back-to-back FA Cups.
Chelsea defeated third placed Manchester United last week to go 10 points clear at the top of the table. Mourinho’s men are still almost guaranteed of winning another Premier League title, and a win for Arsenal would merely delay the Blues’ title celebrations by another week.
Key battle – Francis Coquelin vs Cesc Fabregas
Despite there being key battles all over the pitch on Sunday, the most significant will undoubtedly be the one taking place in the heart of midfield. Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has recorded a phenomenal 16 assists in the Premier League this season, and has returned to his best since controversially moving from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge last summer.
The Spanish World Cup winner will look to exploit every possible weakness in the Gunners backline, but if there is anyone who can help nullify the threat of the league’s best playmaker and former Emirates fan favourite, it is Francis Coquelin. The 23-year-old Frenchman has been a revelation since rejoining Arsene Wenger’s team after returning from loan at Championship side Charlton Athletic. The young Frenchman has all but solved the Gunners problems in holding midfield, and has, statistically, established himself as the most solid holding-midfielder in the league since returning to the Emirates.
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Team news
Arsenal recently had all first team players fit and in training, something that has not happened since 2005, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta will both have to sit out the high-profile with the Blues. Per Mertesacker has been given a 50% chance of playing after spraining his ankle in Arsenal’s FA Cup semi against Reading last weekend, with Gabriel Paulista likely to replace him.
Arsenal expected XI: Ospina, Gibbs, Koscielny, Gabriel, Bellerín, Cazorla, Coquelin, Ramsey, Alexis, Özil, Giroud
All of the league-leaders’ injury woes concern their centre-forwards, leaving Jose Mourinho with a sizeable selection headache ahead of Chelsea’s second match against a top four side in the space of a week. Doubt remains over the fitness of top scorer Diego Costa and Loic Remy, while club legend Didier Drogba has had trouble with his ankle yet again, also casting doubt over whether or not he’ll feature in Sunday’s blockbuster at the Emirates.
Chelsea expected XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Ivanovic, Matic, Zouma, Oscar, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard
Head-to-head
The two London giants clash for the 187th time in all competitions on Sunday, nearly 98 years after the two clubs first met. Historically, Arsenal have had the better of their West London rivals, emerging victorious 71 times, while the Blues have taken maximum points from the Gunners on 60 occasions. The current Premier League top-two have also played out 55 draws.
Previous meeting
Stamford Bridge on October fifth last year was the last time the two clubs locked horns with each other, Jose Mourinho’s men eventually running out 2-0 winners. The game will be remembered for Arsene Wenger shoving Mourinho in the chest after Gary Cahill’s rash challenge on Alexis Sanchez, but it would be Mournho’s men who would go in front thanks to a Eden Hazard penalty after 27 minutes. The Gunners refused to go down lightly, and although Chelsea were far from their best, the game would be killed off with 13 minutes remaining, after Fabregas’ delightful ball found Diego Costa, who calmly lobbed the ball over Szczesny to make the points safe for the Blues.
Prediction
Arsenal’s recent form has been incredible, racking up win after win, and Arsene Wenger’s side have also learned how to win ugly – something the Gunners have certainly not been known for in recent years. However, since they have hit their stride they have not faced a team as strong as Jose Mourinho’s table-topping Blues, who are more than worthy of being crowned champions come May. Sunday’s clash at the Emirates promises to be a fascinating game of football, and although Arsenal will no doubt take the game to Chelsea from the outset, the Gunners will need to put on a clinic to overcome the would-be title holders.
Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2
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