Arsenal will be welcoming Chelsea to The Emirates in what is strangely not a top four clash. With Guus Hiddink’s side currently languishing in 14th position following what has been a torrid season for the Blues, Arsenal should see this match as a chance to show their potential league leaders level of quality and dispatch the former champions.
The form
Despite suffering a horrible season, Chelsea are now unbeaten in six games. The man they can thank for this is Hiddink, The Dutchman’s arrival at Stamford Bridge seems to have brought the sense of calm confidence back to Chelsea, a quality that has been missing since John Terry lifted the Premier League trophy last season.
Hiddink will be hoping that his side can get a win, his side come into this match off the back of two draws, against West Brom and Everton respectively. Two sides that Chelsea should have the quality to be beating.
Arsenal will be a tough test. Arsene Wenger will be the latest man to try and be the first to end Hiddink’s unbeaten return. The Frenchman has been in the title running all season this year, with the fans hoping that the 2015/16 season will end a 12-year period without winning the league.
The Gunners have also drawn their previous two matches but a win against Chelsea will see them return to the top of the table.
Is Petr Cech the difference?
A glaring difference between the stuttering Chelsea of this season and the dominant displays they showed last season, is the lack of their number one, Cech.
The Czech Republic international has had the chance to show his effect on a team by adding solidarity to an Arsenal side that has been known for conceding a large number of goals. The fact is that Cech was Arsenal’s only first team summer signing, and with him the North London side have transformed from a top four side, to a title chasing team. The 33-year old now boasts the Premier League record for the number of clean sheets any goalkeeper has managed, highlighting his sheer quality.
There is no doubting the quality of Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea’s first choice goalkeeper. However the Belgian spent a long time out injured, meaning that Asmir Begovic was first choice goalkeeper. The Bosnian is a solid goalkeeper, but it’s easy to think that if it was Cech who was brought in to cover for Courtois, Chelsea would have been much more comfortable defensively.
Chance to impress
With the Gunners welcoming back some of their more powerful fire power in Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the two men will be wanting to continue impressing.
The German playmaker is well on course to break the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single season. Ozil already boasts 16, with just as many games remaining to add more. Sanchez has scored six goals in his 13 league appearances so far, having a goal to game ratio of just below 0.5. The Chilean will again show his prolific nature if he fires more goals against Chelsea.
Eden Hazard is expected to return for this game, news that may not excite Chelsea fans as much as it used to. The Belgian winger was player of the year last season, but has suffered a major drop in form, looking a shadow of his former self.
The former Lille player began this season on 49 goals for the Blues, and his landmark 50th goal still alludes him having not scored all season. This game against Arsenal provides Hazard with the chance to show his quality, if he puts in a strong performance and lifts his side to victory, perhaps we will began to see the Hazard of old.
