Arsene Wenger wants Arsenal to deliver a hammer blow to Chelsea’s title challenge when the champions visit the Emirates Stadium in a crucial London derby today.
Wenger’s side have endured a miserable run against Chelsea recently, but they have a golden opportunity to end that barren streak of five successive defeats in their final home match of the year.
While Chelsea have slipped to fourth in the Premier League after failing to win any of their last five matches, the Gunners have moved one point above their rivals into second place thanks to some impressive performances.
PHOTO: AFP
Arsenal’s only slip came two weeks ago when they lost to leaders Manchester United, but, despite being widely written off as title contenders in pre-season, they have managed to outshine Carlo Ancelotti’s team over the last two months and Wenger knows they can significantly damage Chelsea’s chances with victory in the first of their Christmas fixtures.
“Of course this is a must-win game,” Wenger said. “We have mixed feelings because we came out of both games against Chelsea and Manchester United this season thinking we could have won and that there wasn’t a difference between the teams.”
“We have a good opportunity to show that in the coming months and that our improvement is bigger than any other team because we are a very young side,” he said.
Photo: REUTERS
“We are confident over taking Chelsea on at home. Chelsea have gone through a period where results are a bit less good but that can happen to anyone in this league,” the Frenchman said. “They have a little bit less confidence than they had in October but we know that winning will be down to our performance.”
“We want to put a top-level performance in at the Emirates and show we are masters at home,” he said.
Wenger hopes the boost of having captain Cesc Fabregas and Dutch forward Robin van Persie starting together for the first time since August will spark his team to a landmark victory.
Photo: REUTERS
However, Chelsea manager Ancelotti believes the presence of Frank Lampard in the team after his three-month injury absence could prove decisive.
Lampard has been sidelined by hernia surgery and a groin injury and the England midfielder’s eye for goal and energetic displays have been sorely missed during Chelsea’s dismal run.
“It’s very important to have him in our attacking play and when we have the ball. That will increase our possibility to score,” Ancelotti said. “Having him back will be fantastic news. He will be able to play. He’s fit. He’s excited.”
“It’s very difficult to find this kind of player who has the capability of scoring 20 goals. He has character, ability, he always runs and works hard,” he said.
“He’s so professional. In the [transfer] market there is no player capable of replacing Lampard,” Ancelotti said.
After starting the season with a blizzard of goals and dominant displays that had many proclaiming them as certainties to retain the title, Chelsea looked far from invincible as injuries to Lampard, John Terry, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba took their toll.
That quartet are all back now though and Ancelotti will be left with few excuses if Chelsea continue to fall further off the pace.
The Italian’s claims that it is harder to stay at the top than get there are unlikely to cut any ice with notoriously demanding Blues owner Roman Abramovich and his coterie of advisors.
“In football it is difficult to maintain first place. It’s easier to arrive first. It’s very difficult to maintain it,” Ancelotti said.
“It’s harder to stay at the top of the table. Obviously, it’s harder now to win the title and stay at the top level. But that’s a fantastic motivation for us,” he said.
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