The big game approaches and as the Gunners prepare to take on Chelsea at the Emirates I have been looking at Chelsea’s official website for this week’s View from the Enemy and it is extremely well researched. So it is definitely worth a read before the game.
So here it is……
For the second Saturday running it is the 5.30pm slot for Maurizio Sarri’s men. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton are ready for the Blues’ chance to do a derby double…
TALKING POINTS
It is west versus north across the capital this weekend, with Spurs’ trip to Fulham on Sunday offering Chelsea the chance to ease two points clear of the Lilywhites first by beating their north London rivals at Emirates the evening before.
The Blues, boasting the third-best away record in the league, will be taking on the Premier League’s third-best home-soil side. For Maurizio Sarri’s men, who have won the last three on the road, it is the first league match away from the Bridge in 2019. Four would be nice, and success on Saturday night would complete the league double over the north Londoners for the fifth time in 13 years.
| P | W | D | L | PTS | F | A | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 20 | 11 | 9 |
| Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Tottenham | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| West Ham | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Crystal Palace | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | -3 |
| Fulham | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 18 | -15 |
The Emirates has been relatively a happy hunting ground – no visiting club can lay claim to as many victories there as the west Londoners’ five. Some of those are included in the current run of one defeat in 14 league games against the Gunners, which includes eight victories and five draws. Only Liverpool and Manchester United have beaten Arsenal more times in the Premier League era.
The Gunners fell to back-to-back away defeats with last weekend’s loss at West Ham, but home comforts served them better over Christmas and New Year with emphatic wins against Burnley and Fulham. Everything is poised for a match of immense importance in the race for the top-four places.
Chelsea have conceded 17 goals in the Premier League this season – 15 fewer than Arsenal’s 32.
Maurizio Sarri’s men are unbeaten in four league games having lost three of the previous six. Arsenal have not won in five Premier League games on the road, but at home they are undefeated in 10.
Helpfully, last weekend’s results stretched the Blues’ points advantage over the Gunners to six, the most since mid-September. The west Londoners have stayed ahead of Unai Emery’s team throughout the campaign, though the gap has varied from goal difference alone to four points in early November.
The two clubs were on level-pegging again as recently as Christmas Eve, however, and a win, sending Sarri’s side nine clear of the north Londoners, would be a sizeable psychological blow in the battle for Champions League places.
The fixtures list meant four of the other five teams in the current top six visited Stamford Bridge over the first half of the campaign. Only Tottenham are yet to come to SW6, and this is the first of several potentially decisive challenges on the road from now until May.
CHELSEA AWAY MATCHES AGAINST TOP 6
Arsenal 19 January
Man City 10 February
Liverpool 12 April*
Man United 26 April*
*Subject to change for TV coverage.
When Eden Hazard passed to Willian for his winner against Newcastle, it made it double figures in assists as well as goals for the Belgian after 22 league matches. He is the quickest to do so since recently departed Blue Cesc Fabregas in 2009/10, when he was playing for this weekend’s host.
The Belgian’s league goals have been worth 10 points to his side this season, while those of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have earned 12 for Arsenal, the most in the Premier League this season.
Premier League top-scorers
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 14
Harry Kane (Tottenham) 14
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 14
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 10
Sergio Aguero (Man City) 10
Richarlison (Everton) 9
Raheem Sterling (Man City) 9
Calum Wilson (Bournemouth) 9
The 12th player’s support will be highly required tonight
COYG
Chelsea should be more than confident. They’re playing against nine statues, Laca and Auba…
But not Torreria, “he’s just like Ozil,” quoting Emery. WTF, SMFH, and FFS. Wonder if Emery will call himself out for his inconsistencies. Benching Torreria and playing Guendouzi, freezing out Ozil and plaing 7 defenders against West F-ing Ham.
Oh Emery, apparently has not learned his lessons from PSG.
Maybe Sven is right in apparently wanting out? Waiting for Emery to criticize Raul now and the fans soon. Everyone to blame but himself apparently.