Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Arsenal v Chelsea
League leaders Chelsea make the short trip across London to the Emirates this weekend for what promises to be an intriguing match. Arsenal bounced back from their defeat at Sunderland with a 2-0 Champions League win over Standard Liege but Carlo Ancelotti’s team will be a far sterner test.
The Gunners have played some excellent football once again this season and the amount of goals they’ve scored is incredible. However, they were unable to score for the first time last weekend at the Stadium of Light which emphasized just how much they missed their main striker Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman has been the central figure in Arsene Wenger’s 3-pronged attacking unit and without his hold up play, the Gunners may struggle to keep possession as high up the park as they are used to against the strong defensive unit Chelsea possess.
Van Persie may not be the most physical of players but he is stronger in possession than Eduardo or Carlos Vela who are the candidates to replace him at the weekend. Both John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho will test the physical side of the strikers games at every opportunity. There will be a healthy respect shown from the Blues towards Arsenal but unlike some teams that have visited the Emirates this season, they won’t fear them. Why should they? They have only conceded 8 times this season and have a very healthy scoring record themselves.
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Arsenal will be more than aware that Chelsea strike duo Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka relish playing against the Gunners. Thomas Vermaelen has had a great start to his new career in North London but he will face a real tough ride against the strength of the big Ivory Coast hitman and the lightning pace of the Frenchman. Drogba’s record against Arsenal is superb; he has scored eight goals in his last eight appearances against the Gunners in all competitions. It’s no surprise that of the last 11 meetings between these two sides, Drogba’s eight appearances have resulted in 7 wins and one draw. In his absence Chelsea have lost two and drawn once. So his inclusion this weekend will set alarm bells ringing for Arsene. To top it off Anelka has scored 7 goals in his last nine Premier League starts against the Gunners so those two will fancy their chances of grabbing goals.
Chelsea won 4-1 at the Emirates last season which was Arsenal’s worst home defeat in Premier League history and their worst home league defeat since March 1977 but I don’t expect a repeat. That game came at a period in the season when Arsenal had just been humbled in the Champions League semi-final by Manchester United but confidence will be far higher in the Gunners camp this time around.
Andrey Arshavin may play a key role if the North Londoners are to upset the league leaders. Since joining the club he has started 20 Premier League matches, winning 14 and losing just once. Of the five games he hasn’t started, Arsenal have lost three. If the Russian is on his game then he could be the key to cutting open a strong looking Chelsea defence with his incisive running and shooting ability.
Arsenal have only been able to win two of their last 14 competitive matches against Chelsea and I don’t expect them to win this weekend. Chelsea look formidable at the moment but I fancy a draw in this one despite the fact Ancelotti’s team are the only Premier League side not to have drawn a match this season.
It should be an exciting game between two teams that have scored 69 league goals between them so far this campaign. However, I am backing a high octane even encounter with a point apiece the final outcome on this weekend’s Premier 10 predictions with a £45,000 rollover jackpot up for grabs for just a £1 stake.
Tags: Alan Hansen, Arsenal, Chelsea, Premier 10, Premier League
