Chelsea v Arsenal: Premier League match preview
Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.For both teams flying high in the Premier League, this crucial match can be a title decider for either team. This match also marks an incredibly accolade for Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger. This will mark 1,000 games in charge of the Gunners since his arrival in 1996. Meanwhile Jose Mourinho is looking to extend Chelsea’s lead at the summit of the Premier League table and maintain his unbeaten record against his counterpart.
The Blues are still on course for the double this season, after defeating Galatasaray 3-1 on aggregate, while all of Arsenal’s focus will be on winning the title which they have failed to achieve since 2004. The West London side are looking for a better performance from their last Premier League outing, losing 1-0 at the hands of Aston Villa at Villa Park last week. Brazilian pair, Ramires and Willian, were both sent for an early bath and will miss this pivotal derby fixture.
In his landmark game for the Gunners, Arsene Wenger and his team aim to capitalise on the Chelsea’s absentees to claim their second successive derby win when Tomas Rosicky’s wonder strike was enough to defeat North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in last Sunday’s battle. An Arsenal win will take them within a point behind Chelsea, and with the North Londoners claiming more points at Stamford Bridge than any other visiting side, Santi Cazorla and Co. are bound to head to West London knowing they need maximum points.
KICK-OFF: 12:45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0, Premier League, December 2013
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2 (Mata, Azpilicueta), League Cup, October 2013
Chelsea 2 (Mata, Lampard Pen) Arsenal 1 (Walcott)
STATS
Chelsea have scored first in their last five home matches against Arsenal
The last five Premier League wins Arsenal have enjoyed at Stamford Bridge have all seen the Gunners come from behind to win.
Chelsea have won their last five home matches against top-six teams
Arsenal have won none of their last 11 Premier League meetings against Chelsea, Man Utd or Man City (W0 D5 L6).
The last Chelsea player to concede a Premier League penalty under Jose Mourinho was Khalid Boulahrouz and it was against Arsenal (May 2007).
Arsenal have the best away record with 29 points on the road, which is level with Spurs, but they have a better goal difference of +6.
ODDS
Chelsea win: 1.85
Arsenal win: 4.33
Draw: 3.40
TV: Live on BT Sport, 12:45pm, highlights on BBC 1 Match of the Day, 10:30pm
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