Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are top of the Premier League and unbeaten entering today’s clash with Arsenal, but the Blues boss does not expect the feats of Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ to be emulated.
The Gunners negotiated the 2003/04 Premier League season without defeat, an achievement previously only performed by Preston in the 1880s.
Just like Chelsea’s one-in-a-generation 6-0 defeat of the Gunners in March – in Wenger’s 1,000th game in charge – Mourinho believes it is not something which will happen in the modern Premier League era.
“It’s something that happened once in a lifetime,” Mourinho said.
“I don’t see, in modern football with the competitiveness of this Premier League, one team being champions without a defeat.
“That will stay in the history as the second and the last time. (That is) my opinion, but we don’t know.”
Chelsea have won five and drawn one of their six Premier League games so far this season and face a Gunners side also unbeaten.
Arsenal capitulated on their last visit to Stamford Bridge, a match remembered for the gaping defensive holes as well as referee Andre Marriner’s mistake in sending off Kieran Gibbs for a handball committed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Mourinho anticipates a much sterner test of his side, which features ex-Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings in midfield. Fabregas was a precocious teenager when Arsenal won the 2004 title.
Mourinho loves the intensity of a derby day and testing himself against the best. His players will also need no additional motivation, just a few instructions.
“I like it difficult,” he said. I like to play against the best. My players also like it.
“Sometimes we are worried about the focus and we are worried about the approach.
“When you play big matches you know the players are more than ready for that. I have a meeting with them, but not a motivational meeting. Just a meeting to try to analyse a few things, a few images. Just about football. Never about the emotional side of it, or the motivational side of it.”
Wenger has told his team that posing their own attacking threat at Stamford Bridge will be just as important as keeping “killer” Chelsea striker Diego Costa quiet.
Spain international Costa has scored eight goals in six Premier League appearances since his summer move from Atletico Madrid, but Wenger insists Arsenal – spearheaded by Danny Welbeck, who netted a European hat-trick in midweek – can offer plenty of forward threat themselves.
“You have to find a balance between nullifying their strengths, but without forgetting to express your strengths,” he said.
“It is very important that we focus and concentrate on us having a great determination, a great desire and a great hunger to have a great performance, and focus on our performance and the way we want to play.”
Arsenal would be nine points behind leaders Chelsea should they lose today. Wenger, though, is not about to read too much into how the early Premier League table is shaping up.
“We want to go to Chelsea to win and, of course, they are six points ahead of us, (which) makes our desire even bigger,” he said.
“We have had a bit more of a difficult run until now than they had because we played Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham in our games, but it is a vital game for us to stay in the race, of course.”
Team news:
Chelsea: Diego Costa will start despite his temperamental hamstrings. Didier Drogba (ankle), who has scored 13 goals in 14 games against Arsenal, finishing on the losing side once in that time, is out. Midfielder Ramires (groin) is also absent.
Arsenal: Arsenal could have defender Nacho Monreal (back) available. Midfielders Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Mikel Arteta (calf) remain sidelined, while Abou Diaby is again likely to be rested following a hip problem.
Likely line-ups:
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Matic, Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Costa.
Arsenal: Szczesn, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers, Wilshere, Flamini, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck.
Players to watch:
Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas- The obvious man to keep an eye on and it really will make Wenger look stupid for not re-signing him this summer if Fabregas puts on a masterclass today. Has been sublime on his Premier League return; his passing crisp and full of invention.
Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez- There are few harder working forwards in football. Just see how much ground Sanchez covers over the course of the game. He is starting to grow into his role in the team although you can’t help thinking he’d be more effective a little higher up the field and playing in a central position.
Sport360° Prediction:
Like last year's encounter, we expect plenty of goals and it will be Chelsea that come out on top with Diego Costa adding to his impressive goal tally. Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal
