Andrei Arshavin

 

Chelsea V Arsenal

 

Sunday, 7^th February – 16:00 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

 

 

 

Chelsea

 

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WWWWD

 

Chelsea’s winning run of four games came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night when Hull City, of all the teams, stopped Chelsea in their tracks by holding out for a point, drawing 1-1 at The KC. However, Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t have a lot of time to dwell on that mishap as one of Chelsea’s nearest neighbours comes to town, but this time it’s one of their closest pursuers for the league crown in Arsenal. Chelsea will need to be careful that their arrogance doesn’t get the better of them because they will be supremely confident of their chances in Sunday’s clash in the knowledge that they tore Arsenal to pieces when the pair last met this season at The Emirates, back in November.

  

Chelsea took Arsenal to town when the two sides met at The Emirates earlier this season in a game most people thought would test Chelsea’s title credentials but, instead, boosted them significantly. Chelsea did, however, go on to lose their very next league fixture, a 2-0 defeat to Man City, but have picked themselves up by going on a nine match unbeaten run in the league and are still going well in the FA Cup – unlike the Gunners. There have been a few too many draws along the way, with Chelsea drawing four of their last nine in this unbeaten run of theirs, but three of those four draws did come away from Stamford Bridge and the only side to have taken points away from Stamford Bridge this season was Everton, and they had to score three goals just to earn a point.

  

It’s not surprising that, even after their disappointing point in midweek, Chelsea are the short priced favourites to win on Sunday in this eagerly awaited clash as it’s their opponents who will be feeling the pressure the most. However, Chelsea must avoid being overconfident ahead of this clash and should look no further for motivation than their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal last season. That was one of two rare home defeats for Chelsea last season but they’ve yet to lose a home fixture this season and, were they to avoid defeat on Sunday, are almost be certain to go the remainder of the season without a home loss as Liverpool & United, arguably Chelsea’ toughest home fixtures on the football calendar, have already been dispatched by the blues.

  

Chelsea, even with their draw at Hull, are in a rich vein of form and it’s hard to see them losing this fixture. However, several teams have given Chelsea a scare at The Bridge in the past month or so, with the likes of Portsmouth, Fulham, & Everton all scoring at the home of Chelsea, with Everton earning a deserved point and the other two walking away feeling mighty aggrieved after causing Chelsea all sorts of problems at the back. However, these concerns of ours, mainly in their defending it has to be said, might just have been put to bed when Chelsea obliterated Birmingham’s fifteen match unbeaten run by comprehensively winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. They were clinical in front of goal that night while their quick-tempo start to the game was a joy to behold, but Chelsea did almost come unstuck in the second half when they allowed Birmingham to come at them and perhaps this arrogance of theirs, which is definitely apparent, just might be their downfall on Sunday – Who knows?!

 

 

Arsenal

 

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: DWWDL

  

Arsenal were humiliated over the weekend when they were crushed by Manchester United, losing 3-1 at The Emirates in their second home defeat of the season. The small grain of hope for Arsenal fans, though, is that the last time Arsenal were beaten at home, also conceding three goals, the Gunners then went on a title chasing run by going ten games unbeaten in the league. However, that impressive run of theirs, one which came to a stern end last Sunday, was built upon another humiliating defeat when Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-0 at The Emirates stadium. Can Arsenal somehow avenge that defeat or will they fall foul to yet another crushing blow? 

 

This is a ‘make or break’ fixture for Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal troops as defeat would all-but end their hopes of winning their first league title since 2002. A loss to a side that played them off the park in the reverse meeting, would see Arsenal fall nine points off the pace and that doesn’t bare thinking about if you’re an Arsenal supporter. However, you Gooners can cling onto the hope that your side can spring a shock on Sunday by emulating the success they enjoyed at The Bridge last season when they won 2-1. However, both their goals that day were scored by a now injured Robin Van Persie and there are questions surrounding Arsenal’s attacking options in that they just don’t have enough quality up front without their Dutch star.

  

We are fairly confident that Arsenal won’t just turn up and roll over. We are also quite optimistic that Arsenal will create chances against a Chelsea defence which hasn’t been bulletproof this season. However, our main concern is how they will score the goals as their forward line is looking too blunt to make a big impact in this sort of fixture. Andrei Arshavin, whom has been used as a winger for Arsenal for the best part of this season, is now taking up the sole responsibility of scoring the brunt of Arsenal’s goals by lining up in attack on his lonesome. The little Russian may have an abundance of pace and skill but he lacks so much height that defences just aren’t scared of him in that central role. With Nicklas Bendtner slowly returning to fitness, we would opt for the Danish international in attack and instead put Arshavin back out on the wing where he can terrorise Chelsea’s full-backs and cut inside at will. By having Arshavin in the centre you’re nullifying one of your best attacking influences and it’s also piling unnecessary pressure on the Russian. 

 

If Arsene Wenger does switch Arshavin with Bendtner and put the Russian back out wide then we feel Arsenal have a chance. However, we also feel Arsenal need the first goal to stand any chance of winning this fixture as Chelsea can turn rampant once they take the lead and have yet to relinquish any points in games they’ve scored first in at Stamford Bridge. A high-tempo start is required, imperative in fact, if Arsenal want to keep their title dreams alive with a win.

  

 

Head-to-Head:

 

Chelsea W: Arsenal W: Draws:

 

 

•  Chelsea have the edge over Arsenal after winning five of their previous ten meetings. 

•  Chelsea will be gunning for their third successive league victory over the Gunners on Saturday, although neither came at Stamford Bridge.

•  Arsenal won the last encounter at Stamford Bridge after coming from a goal down to win 2-1 in lasts seasons tight affair in which Robin Van Persie stole the show with a match winning brace. 

• Arsenal haven’t lost by more than a one goal margin at Stamford Bridge in any of their previous seven visits.

• There has been an own goal in the previous three meetings between the two sides, with two coming from Arsenal and one from Chelsea. Funnily enough, the two Arsenal own goals both came at The Emirates while the Chelsea own goal came at Stamford Bridge.

• Chelsea have received the most bookings in the previous two clashes at Stamford Bridge, while Didier Drogba has been booked in two of the previous three meetings at Chelsea.

 

 

 

Key Players:

 

Chelsea – Didier Drogba

 

It’s going to be intriguing watching Didier Drogba attempting to get the better of Arsenal’s usually solid centre-back pairing of Thomas Vermealen & William Gallas. The Ivory Coast international, whom has only just returned from the African Cup of Nations, took just 42 minutes to find his scoring boots for Chelsea as he scored Chelsea’s equaliser on Tuesday night. The bulky 31 year-old has now scored something like 34 goals in 41 games for Chelsea, which is a staggering goal return and one of the reasons why Drogba is favourite to open the scoring on Sunday. He has the ability to terrorise defences, the pace and strength to bomb past a defender and the composure to finish in the game-defining moments. Drogba is going to be a real handful for Arsenal and he has every chance of winning this game for Chelsea single handily.

 

Didier Drogba FGS – 5/1 Coral

Didier Drogba Anytime Scorer – 13/8 Coral

To score a Brace (2 or more) – 7/1 PaddyPower

 

 

Arsenal – Andrei Arshavin

 

Some will say Cesc Fabregas, who is probably enjoying his best spell of his career, will be the player which could be the driving force behind a surprise Arsenal win on Sunday, but we feel the potential match winner  for Arsenal could be their Russian superstar. Arshavin has this knack of scoring in the biggest games for Arsenal, with Chelsea being the only ‘Big Four’ team he hasn’t scored against since joining Arsenal. He scored 4 at Anfield last season in a 4-4 draw with Liverpool, he then added to Liverpool’s woes with Arsenal’s winner at Anfield back in November  whilst he scored Arsenal’s opener in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Man Utd. Like Drogba, although certainly not in stature, Arshavin posses the ability to skin his marker with ease and has the talent to go on a mazy run with the ball, leaving defenders often in his wake. Moreover, he has one of the deadliest shots I think I’ve ever seen. When he hits them they stay hit,and, from such a small player, he doesn’t half get some power behind his shots. He’s also a smart thinker, he knows where the gaps are and he could be the key for Arsenal in unlocking that Chelsea defence.

 

Arshavin FGS – 8/1 SkyBet

Arshavin Anytime Scorer – 11/4 SkyBet

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 5.00 (4/1!) Bet365, SkyBet & PaddyPower

 

The Premiership needs three title contenders heading into the latter part of the season and for this to happen Arsenal ideally need to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to keep them within touching distance. It’s a very big ask considering Chelsea haven’t lost at home all season and have rarely looked like losing at Stamford Bridge, and with Arsenal getting battered last Sunday, but it’s not out of the question an Arsenal victory as they have the inventory to cause Chelsea’s often shaky defence all sorts of problems. It will require a huge amount of effort and courage from the Arsenal starting eleven but an Arsenal win is no forlorn hope and, at very attractive odds, it’s certainly worth chancing in game you simply have to have some form of a bet on.

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Chelsea – 1.83 SkyBet

Draw – 3.50 Boylesports

Arsenal – 5.00 Bet365, SkyBet, PaddyPower

 

 

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Arsenal to Score 2 or more Goals – 13/5 PaddyPower