Arsene
Wenger will attempt to end his Jose Mourinho hoodoo when Arsenal host
Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, live on Super Sunday.
The Gunners, who have won more points in 2015 than any other Premier League
side, find themselves 10 points adrift of Chelsea at the top of the table
and their slim title hopes rest on victory over the Blues.
However, Arsenal, who lost 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge
last October, have only won two of their last 12 league matches against
Chelsea and Wenger has never beaten Mourinho when the Portuguese manager is
in the opposition dugout.
Mourinho will be hoping to extend that run to hand Chelsea a win that would
take them to within three points of a first league title in five years.
The clash will also see former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas return to the
Emirates for the first time as an opposing player and he will be hoping to
add to his league-high 16 Premier League assists this season.
Team news
Per Mertesacker is doubtful because of an ankle injury picked up in last
weekend's FA Cup semi-final win over Reading.
Gabriel Paulista is ready to come in at centre-half. Goalkeeper David
Ospina, as well as full-backs Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal, are
expected to return, having sat out last weekend's FA Cup semi-final against
Reading at Wembley.
Captain Mikel Arteta (ankle) and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin)
are still not match fit.
Mourinho will make a late decision on whether to risk Diego Costa's fragile
hamstrings at the Emirates.
Costa has missed the last two matches, but could return ahead of schedule in
place of Didier Drogba, who is fit after an ankle knock, as Chelsea seek a
win which would see them move within three points of the title.
Striker Loic Remy (calf) is definitely out, so Dominic Solanke could come on
to the substitutes' bench if Costa fails to make it.
Opta facts
Wenger has lost just five competitive home games by a 3+ goal margin during
his tenure as Arsenal manager; three of which have come against Chelsea.
Didier Drogba has scored eight times in 11 Premier League appearances
against Arsenal in his career. Against no team has he scored more in the
division (also scored eight vs West Brom).
Mourinho has never lost as an opposition coach against Arsene Wenger in any
competition (W7 D5).
Arsenal have won just two of their last 12 league clashes with Chelsea (D2
L8).
Chelsea have kept four clean sheets in their last six clashes with Arsenal,
conceding just two goals in total.
In the reverse fixture against the Blues back in October, Arsenal failed to
have a shot on target for the first time in a Premier League match since
September 2003 (Manchester United away).
Chelsea have scored first in all 20 of their games in all competitions in
2015.
Merson's prediction
This game all depends on Diego Costa. If Costa’s fit it’s a different game,
but if he ain’t fit I can’t see any goals.
Tactically, Mourinho can go somewhere and make it very difficult and Arsenal
have that tendency to shoot themselves in the foot if it is tight and
Chelsea are defending well. Last week, Chelsea had 30 per cent of the play
at home but Man Utd never looked like scoring. They never looked like
scoring. If that happens in this game, Arsenal will get frustrated and they
will let in Chelsea. But I think Mourinho will go there, make sure they
don’t lose, and that will be it.
If Arsenal did win, the difference between them would be seven points.
Football’s a funny game: Chelsea go to Leicester on Wednesday night and
who’s to say Leicester don't win that by a fluke goal, Arsenal win their
game in hand, and it’s four points? But I’d be shocked if Chelsea didn’t win
the title from here with the manager they’ve got. Tactically, he’s too cute.
The last two games they’ve won 1-0 and probably haven’t had five shots. But
they won both games – anybody else wouldn’t have won those games and that’s
where the points mount up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)
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