On Sky
We herald the start of the new week, Christmas week, with an enticing trip to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal. The weekend fixtures have contrived to drop us out of the top four, to a lowly fifth position in the Premier League table. But such is the closeness of the league this season, a win against Arsenal will catapult us back up to joint-top, with Liverpool. Let`s hope that we can turn in the sort of performance that saw us beat Arsenal, on their own turf, in the Capital One Cup earlier this season.
Vital Quotes:
As we prepare to take on Arsenal Juan Mata, who will be hoping for a place in the starting eleven, especially after scoring in his previous four outings against Arsenal, has had this to say,
“Arsenal are playing really well at home but we won there in the League Cup this season.”
“We`ll try to play great football like we did in that game and we`ll try to get the three points.”
“It`s a team I enjoy playing against. They are a tem that play with the ball and, in a way, they let you play with the ball as well.”
“I`ve been lucky against them. I scored at Stamford Bridge twice in two games. I scored at the Emirates twice too.”
Come on Jose, pick the Special Juan!
Arsenal Team News:
Arsene Wenger enters this fixture without his influential midfielder, Jack Wilshere. The England international starts a two game ban for an obscene gesture directed at the Manchester City supporters in the recent defeat.
Arsenal will also be without their defender, Laurent Koscielny, who picked up a deep cut to his knee in the same game.
However, having missed several games through injury, Lukas Podolski is available for selection again.
Player to watch: Mesut Ozil
Who`d have thought that Arsenal would ever have splashed so much cash on one player? But it has to be said it was money well spent. Ozil has been the star of the Arsenal side this season as they attempt to mount a title challenge.
Chelsea Team News:
Cole will not be in the starting eleven. With Branislav Ivanovic having served a one game suspension, for picking up five yellow card, he will take the right back spot and Cesar Azpilicueta will switch over to the left back spot.
Elsewhere, Michael Essien will sit this one out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, thereby meaning he`ll serve a one-game ban.
Player to watch: Eden Hazard
Could the wide-open spaces at the Emirates provide the width that Eden needs to bamboozle the Arsenal rear-guard?
Match Facts & Stats
Jose Mourinho takes his side to North London knowing that Arsene Wenger has never beaten him. Currently Jose, in 9 league and cup games has 5 wins and 4 draws to his name.
The last three encounters between the two sides have seen Chelsea win all three, the most recent win being at the Emirates Stadium, back in October, in the Capital One Cup.
Our huge managerial turnover is highlighted by the fact that in the last 6 meetings between the sides we`ve had 5 different managers.
Ref Watch:
The officials for this fixture are:-
Referee – Mike Dean
Assistants – J. Collin and J. Brooks
Fourth Official – J. Moss
Match Prediction:
I`m not sure crossing swords with Arsenal after their 6-3 mauling against Manchester City is a good thing or not. Our recent record against Arsenal is impressive but our recent performances haven`t exactly set the world alight have they! I`ve no doubt that Arsenal will move the ball around sweetly and that we could be penned back in our own half for long periods, so can we make our counter-attacks count? I`d love to predict a Chelsea win but something tells me it`ll be a draw, quite possibly 2-2
Next Fixtures:
Our next fixture sees us entertain Swansea City, on Boxing Day, as we get stuck into a fiercely competitive festive programme.