Arsene Wenger hoping to put things right against Chelsea
After a week of almost no football, the Premier League will return with another host of exciting fixtures but no fixture on the weekend will be as big as the top of the table meeting between the two London rivals.
Arsenal FC will welcome Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night in what is expected to be a feisty encounter in North London.
Arsenal’s record in the league against Manchester United and Chelsea in recent years has not been the best but Arsene Wenger is hopeful that his young gunners are good enough to turn things around and stay in control in the Premier
League title race.
Arsenal has often been criticized for their lack of physicality against physical teams but in their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United just a few weeks ago, they showed that that can get dirty when they need to and Wenger has said
that it is time for them to address this issue as they prepare to face Chelsea in an epic encounter on Monday.
Wenger’s men have lost 14 out of their last 18 meetings against the top two, winning on only two occasions since 2007.
Chelsea will visit the Gunners den on Monday night hoping to secure their sixth consecutive win over the gunners having scored a whopping 13 goals in their last five outings.
Didier Drogba has been the tormentor in chief of the gunners having scored 13 goals in their last 13 meetings and has never been on the losing side on any previous occasion when the two sides have met.
Arsenal’s record against the top two since 2007 clearly states why the Gunners have failed to lift the EPL trophy in the same period but Wenger says that stats do not present the clear picture.
"Of course we have a point to prove given our record against the big teams. You have to show that you are up to the level expected from you in these games. That's the obstacle to get over. At home in the big games, you want to
win. We don't really think about the record because the statistics are history and every game is a new start. We have to make sure for us that day is on Monday. Our statistics recently are against us because we have a very young team. But three years ago,
we lost the small games and didn't lose the big games but still lost the championship so we have to combine both sides of it.”
Wenger believes that his side is in a strong position as far as the title race is concerned and they are not willing to give the initiative away.
Thomas Vermalen is still out injured for the gunners and is not expected to make a comeback until January and in his absence, Squillaci and Koscielny will take the responsibility to stop Drogba.
But Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are back to full fitness and are expected to start for Arsenal against Chelsea on Monday.
The match is going to be equally important for both the sides as Chelsea have not won a single game in their last six outings while Arsenal also have a point to prove against their bitter title and city rivals.
A draw in the game would suit Manchester United as it can consolidate their position at the top of the table if they manage to beat Sunderland in their meeting on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Currently only one point separates United and Arsenal but United have two games in hand.
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