Florent Malouda looks ahead to Arsenal test
Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has said that his team's encounter with Arsenal on Sunday will be one of many tough challenges to come in the Premier League this season.
Malouda's team enjoyed a flawless start to their league campaign, winning their first five games before suffering defeat away to Manchester City last weekend.
As the team returns to Stamford Bridge, Malouda expects the home fans to get behind the team in the London derby.
“Manchester City was a tough opposition and our first defeat," the Frenchman said. "I will speak from our point of view. We must expect a good reaction in front of our fans. We lost against Man City and now we have an opportunity with a home game to get
back the winning atmosphere."
Arsenal's last victory against Chelsea came in 2008, and Chelsea has won six of the last ten meetings between the two clubs.
But despite his team's strong record against Arsene Wenger's team, Malouda insisted that Arsenal will be difficult to overcome.
“Everybody knows the passing game of Arsenal. They have quality. We have seen many times teams coming here and try to close the game and it depends if you score early in the game, but I think that Arsenal have always played the same way with their passing
game and technical quality, and they try to do the same against everyone."
Both teams won their Champions League games on Tuesday, and neither will want to lose ground to each other, or to Manchester United or City at the top of the league.
Arsenal are third in the league with 11 points, having lost 3–2 to West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
“It will be a big challenge for us to win against a team of the 'big four'. Chelsea-Arsenal games are always important because they are just behind us and we want to increase the gap."
Tags: