MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 14:59:10| >> :60:666:666:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Premier League
Mar 22, 2014 at 12.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

6-0

Eto'o (5'), Schurrle (7'), Hazard (17' pen.), Oscar (42', 65'), Salah (69')
FT(HT: 4-0)

Preview: Chelsea vs. Arsenal

Sports Mole previews Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal as they visit Chelsea in arguably the biggest game of the Premier League title run-in yet.

Arsene Wenger takes charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th time when they visit Chelsea this weekend.

In arguably the biggest game of the title run-in to date, the Gunners will try to cut the gap on the table-topping Blues to one point on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout his 18-year reign, Wenger has overseen three Premier League championship wins and four FA Cup successes, and victory at Stamford Bridge would vastly improve his chances of adding to that and ending Arsenal's eight-year trophy drought.

His opposite number, though, remains unbeaten in 75 home league matches as Chelsea boss, although the Champions League quarter-finalists did suffer a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their last outing.

The hosts will be without the suspended duo of one-named Brazilians Ramires and Willian, both of whom saw red at Villa Park much to the dismay of Jose Mourinho, who was also sent off by referee Chris Foy.

Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who produced an immense display last weekend to thwart former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor in the North London derby, will likely have Samuel Eto'o to contend with.

The Cameroonian striker, who turned 33 last week, has netted in each of his last two games and has made a habit of scoring important goals against the division's other top sides this season.

Nemanja Matic, who is ineligible for European competition, will return to fill the void left by Ramires and could be joined in midfield by both Frank Lampard and David Luiz, with Mourinho having favoured a more cautious approach against Chelsea's title rivals so far this campaign.

Injury won't deny Ashley Cole the chance to face the club he left to sign for the Blues, but Cesar Azpilicueta will. Cole is fit again following a knee problem, but will only be among the home substitutes.

Wenger heads into his landmark match without four of his most senior figures. The sidelined Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere will all miss Arsenal's game with their capital rivals.

The visitors could name the same starting XI that beat Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, although Mathieu Flamini could be picked instead of Lukas Podolski if Wenger feels an extra midfielder is needed.

Recent form

Chelsea: WLWWDW

Arsenal: WDWLWL

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Luiz, Lampard; Hazard, Schurrle, Eto'o

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud

Sports Mole says: 3-0


ID:145313: cacheID:145313:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5981:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho looks on against Galatasaray during his team's Champions League match on February 26, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Villa vs. Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!