Arsene Wenger comes up against arch-nemesis Jose Mourinho this afternoon for the 13th time in his managerial career, although he is still seeking a first win over the Portuguese.
A combined scoreline of 21-6 is weighing down heavily on the shoulders of the Arsenal boss heading into the top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates Stadium, and it is a hoodoo that he must simply put behind him sooner rather than later.
There have been many memorable meetings between two of the all-time great managers of the game, yet there is no denying that it is Chelsea's Mourinho who has the fonder memories of previous meetings.
Here, Sports Mole looks back at five of the best fixtures to outline how this rivalry has developed over the past decade.
Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea (Premier League, December 2004)
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The game where the rivalry began. An enthralling affair at Highbury saw Thierry Henry twice put the Gunners ahead, although Chelsea showed the resilience which would lead to their first Premier League title success just five months later thanks to goals from John Terry and Eidur Gudjohnsen.
It was Arsenal who ended things on top as Henry fired over when picked out in a decent shooting position, while Mathieu Flamini had a late penalty appeal turned down. The point suited the visitors just fine, with their five-point gap at the top still intact heading into the busy festive fixture list.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League, December 2006)
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Almost two years to the day after that first meeting, this clash signalled the beginnings of a great Premier League rivalry. Chelsea dropped eight points off the pace following the draw, although it would have been even worse had Michael Essien not produced one of the division's all-time classic strikes. Flamini fired Arsenal into a surprise lead somewhat against the run of play, before Essien belted an effort from range which looked for all the world to be flying wide until it crept in off the post at the last second.
The Ghanian could have won it in added time when he struck the bar, but it was not to be. This heated exchange will also be remembered as the afternoon in which Ashley Cole faced his former club for the first time since making a high-profile switch across the capital, which left Arsenal fans feel just a little aggrieved.
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal (League Cup Final, February 2007)
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Mourinho got the better of Wenger in their first final meeting of sorts in 2005's Community Shield, but this was a bigger occasion with the League Cup on the line. The tension had been mounting throughout in the Welsh capital as early goals from Theo Walcott and Didier Drogba - a man who Arsenal supporters would grow to hate - left the contest delicately poised right until the closing stages.
The Ivorian headed home the winner six minutes from time to land the season's first piece of silverware for his side, but that was just half the story, with some ugly scenes in the immediate aftermath of the goal only adding to the whole drama of this fixture. Jon Obi Mikel, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor were each shown red cards for their part in the scuffle which ensued, marring what had been an intriguing cup final.
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League, May 2007)
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Chelsea's two-year hold of the league crown came to an end at the Emirates Stadium as they failed to overcome the Gunners, ensuring that Manchester United laid claim to the title for the first time since 2003. The writing was on the wall for the Blues shortly before the interval when Khalid Boulahrouz brought down Julio Baptista to concede a penalty and earn a red card in the process.
Gilberto Silva made no mistake from the spot and, despite Essien continuing his goalscoring form against Arsenal with a diving header, Wenger's men were able to hold out for the draw. Missing the talismanic Drogba due to injury, Chelsea's second-half performance was one of their most spirited under the watch of their Portuguese boss, but that was not enough to halt the tears at full time when their hopes of finishing top for a third year on the bounce came to an end.
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal (Premier League, March 2014)
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Having ruined his opposite number's 500th game in charge with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in 2005, Mourinho did likewise on what should have been a truly memorable day for Wenger. The Frenchman's 1000th game at the Arsenal helm ended in pain and humiliation as the Blues ran out 6-0 winners in West London.
Just seven minutes had lapsed before the hosts had eased into a two-goal lead, with another couple arriving before the break. Some refereeing controversy, which saw Kieran Gibbs dismissed rather than teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain following a handball on the line, could not take the heat away from Wenger, with this his joint-heaviest margin of defeat as manager. For Chelsea, it was their biggest win under the guidance of the self-proclaimed 'Special One', and one that will certainly go down in the record books for years to come.
Daniel Lewis
