Next game will witness a “different” http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044: Carlo Ancelotti
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti claims that Arsenal are “a little bit afraid” of the Blues’ prolific striker Didier Drogba, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not deny this suggestion, acknowledging Drogba’s terrific record
against his team. The Ivory Coast striker has managed to score 12 times against the Gunners in their last 12 meetings. Drogba also scored the opening goal against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge this in the first leg of the Premier League, a game Chelsea comfortably
won 2-0.
However, Drogba recently suffered from a bout of malaria, and has had a difficult time on the pitch in recent weeks.
“I understand he has not been in a good condition,” Ancelotti told http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786’s official website. “He had difficulty to play with malaria, he was tired, he was not 100 per cent and he found it difficult to train. I put him in the
last few games even though he was not 100 per cent because we need to have his character and his personality.”
Drogba’s loss of form saw him benched in the first half of Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur, but he did come in during the second half of the match and scored a goal to draw his team level. Even though he then missed a
crucial penalty that could have earned his side three points at White Hart Lane and ended their four-match losing streak, Ancelotti believes Drogba’s goal “was very good for his attitude” and that the striker will be at his best when his side takes on Arsenal
on Monday night.
'Now his condition is better,” said Ancelotti. “He had a good reaction after coming on as substitute in the last game, this is the most important thing and following the goal against Tottenham he will show us a different Drogba
in the next game.”
Ancelotti, who earlier this week hit out at Premier League fixture planners for their very hectic post-Christmas fixture list, is desperate for his side to beat Arsenal in order to prevent the gap between Chelsea and league-leaders Manchester United from widening.
Chelsea are currently placed fourth in the Premier League table with 31 points to their credit out of 17 league games. The West London giants take on third-placed city rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
Update: Arsenal are 1-0 against Chelsea at half-time, with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alexandre-c4885 Song securing the goal and Cesc Fabregas assisting.
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