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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V ARSENAL

/noticias.info/ For Chelsea, Easter Sunday presents both the chance to even scores after a narrow December defeat in north London, and overtake the Gunners in the table. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton prepare.

Rick looks towards two sides in big need of a win.


The football adage that it's the draws that kill a team feels particularly poignant to both London clubs squaring up on Sunday.

Arsenal's four consecutive stalemates have meant the dropping of eight points from the 12 on offer against Birmingham, Villa, Wigan and Boro. Before the match at St Andrew's, the Gunners were five points clear of Manchester United and eight ahead of Chelsea. Now, even after the spectacular 4-4 setback at White Hart Lane, the Blues can move up to second with victory at the Bridge.

Unusually, with United still to visit the Bridge, a Chelsea win would be the first in the league this season over any one of Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester Utd. The Blues have managed to beat at least one of those in every top-flight campaign since before our last promotion in 1989.

Yet this season our record against the other 'big four' is played four, won none, drawn two, lost two. We have come to expect a better performance against our greatest rivals over the years, and now would be a good time to keep the record going.

Arsenal still have to play their three closest foes but have won once and drawn twice in meetings so far. Arsenal's season will be defined by a squad-stretching sequence of matches: after this weekend, they face Bolton away, then three consecutive games against Liverpool in the Premier and Champions League followed by a trip to Old Trafford.

Arsenal have only played 14 or their 30 matches away from home so far - compared to Chelsea's 16 - but their record on their travels is equivalent to those of Liverpool, Everton and Portsmouth. Only Villa have drawn away more times than Arsenal's six, but Arsène Wenger's team has only been beaten once; United and Chelsea have three away draws and losses each.

This is London's longest-running top-flight derby, stretching back to a 2-1 win for the Pensioners over Woolwich Arsenal back in November 1907, and Chelsea have enjoyed long periods of dominance over the Gunners in the league.

The most recent encounter, at the Emirates in mid-December, produced Wenger's first win over a Chelsea side since February 2002 - he never got the better of José Mourinho.

And yet before and after William Gallas's goal Chelsea had golden opportunities to score, not least Shaun Wright-Phillips' point-blank chance. As it was, Emanuel Eboué's reckless tackle robbed the Blues of John Terry's steadying presence for most of the match and the effects of the skipper's broken foot were felt long after that day.

There is no one who wants to beat Arsenal more than John Terry. In last year's Carling Cup final he proved he was even prepared to be knocked unconscious to secure a vital result.

The worrying trend for Avram Grant, though, is that the Spurs game showed continued discomfort among the Chelsea rearguard in dealing with crosses, especially from set-pieces. Arsenal, with strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicolas Bendtner, now have aerial weapons in their armoury they previously lacked.

Adebayor, though, in common with others among Wenger's top-performing players like Cesc Fabregas and Aleksandr Hleb, have looked mentally tired in their sequence of league draws. The Togolese forward has not scored in the league in nearly six weeks, and the once free-scoring midfield has largely dried up.

The impressive victory in Milan against an ageing Rossoneri side is looking like an anomaly at the moment. Fabregas's late opening goal came from a quick burst of pace past the tiring Gattuso and a distant shot that exposed the frailties of keeper Kalac. Those moments have been rarer in the hustle and bustle of domestic competition.

Should both clubs see off their quarter-final opponents, Chelsea and Arsenal would meet again in the semi-final of the Champions League over two legs, a reminder of the clashes of 2004. A draw at the Bridge on Sunday would place more importance for both on that competition if Manchester United beat Liverpool in the 1.30 kick-off.

Should United fail to win, though, the outcome of this match could have even greater impact on a compelling three-way race for the Premier League finishing line.


CHELSEA V ARSENAL - Paul Dutton with the numerical background to London's top of the table derby.

Chelsea are hoping to extend our record unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge to 78 games.

In the same period we have not lost at Stamford Bridge in 97 domestic matches if penalty shoot-outs are excluded.

We are also looking to extend our club unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge in all competitions to 62 games since our last defeat on February 22nd 2006 when Barcelona beat a ten-man Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League. That has been our only home defeat in the last 120 games since February 2004.

Our last home defeat against the Gunners was in fact our last at home in the Premier League on the 21st February 2004. Eidur Gudjohnsen scored his first against Arsenal after 29 seconds from Gérémi's cross. 14 minutes later Arsenal hit back with two goals in six minutes from Patrick Vieira and Edu. Gudjohnsen was sent off in the second half for two yellows.

A total of 29,700 minutes of Premier League football have been played by 23 members of the Arsenal squad this season: of that just 894 minutes (3%) have been the work of Englishmen. Two Englishman: Theo Walcott and Justin Hoyte.

The Gunners have only gained four points (four draws) from the last possible 12. Their last win was against Blackburn on February 11th.

Only Portsmouth and Wigan have stopped Arsenal scoring this season in the Premier League.

Arsenal have only lost one in 30 this season, and 37 in total in just under a year (Middlesbrough at the Riverside on 9th December). Man Utd have lost four and Chelsea and Liverpool three.

Just over a third of Arsenal's league goals this season have been scored in the final ten minutes.

Only Man Utd (61) have scored more goals this term than Arsenal's 58.

The Gunners have picked up 17 points from games in which they were losing including four games from losing positions.

We are unbeaten in 13 in the Premier League since our defeat at the Emirates in December.

Emmanuel Adebayor is Arsenal's leading scorer in all competitions with 23. Frank Lampard heads Chelsea's scoring chart with 17 and is looking to achieve 20 goals for the third successive season following his 19 in 2004/05.

Chelsea have been beaten four times (Man Utd away, Arsenal away, Tottenham at Wembley and Barnsley away) in 41 games in all competitions under Avram Grant in a run that has seen 28 wins and 25 clean sheets.

Chelsea have played 49 games in all competitions winning 31, drawing 13 and losing five. We have scored 86 goals, conceded 34 and have kept 27 clean sheets. We have failed to score on 10 occasions.

Our Premier League record at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal is as follows:
1992/93 Chelsea won 1-0
1993/94 Arsenal won 2-0
1994/95 Chelsea won 2-1
1995/96 Chelsea won 1-0
1996/97 Arsenal won 3-0
1997/98 Arsenal won 3-2
1998/99 Drew 0-0
1999/00 Arsenal won 3-2
2000/01 Drew 2-2
2001/02 Drew 1-1
2002/03 Drew 1-1
2003/04 Arsenal won 2-1
2004/05 Drew 0-0
2005/06 Chelsea won 1-0
2006/07 Drew 1-1

The Gunners away league record is won seven (Tottenham 3-1, West Ham 1-0, Reading 3-1, Aston Villa 2-1, Everton 4-1, Fulham 3-0, Man City 3-1), lost one (Middlesbrough 1-2) and drawn six (Blackburn 1-1, Liverpool 1-1, Newcastle 1-1, Portsmouth 0-0, Birmingham 2-2, Wigan 0-0).

Arsenal's last six games
Feb 20 AC Milan (UCL h) D 0-0
Feb 23 Birmingham (a) D 2-2
Mar 1 Aston Villa (h) D 1-1
Mar 4 AC Milan (UCL a) W 2-0
Mar 9 Wigan (a) D 0-0
Mar 15 Middlesbrough (h) D 1-1

The Gunners have played 48 games in all competitions winning 31, losing four and drawing 13. They have scored 94 goals, conceded 38, have kept 24 clean sheets and failed to score on five occasions.

A late Kolo Touré goal secured a point for Arsenal last weekend. Gunners old boy Jérémie Aliadière opened the scoring for Middlesbrough after 25 minutes. Team (4-4-2) Almunia; Sagna (Bendtner 62), Gallas (c), Touré, Clichy (Senderos 89); Eboué, Fàbregas, Flamini, Hleb; van Persie (Walcott 62), Adebayor.

Premier League scorers:
Chelsea (53): Lampard 10 (3 pens), J Cole 7, Drogba 6, Kalou 6, Ballack 4 (1 pen), Essien 4, Shevchenko 4 (1 pen), Alex 2, Belletti 2, Pizarro 2, Wright-Phillips 2, Anelka 1, A Cole 1, Malouda 1, Terry 1.
Arsenal (58): Adebayor 19 (3 pens), Fàbregas 7, Rosicky 6, van Persie 5 (1 pen), Eduardo 4, Flamini 3, Gallas 3, Bendtner 2, Hleb 2, Senderos 2, Touré 2, Walcott 2, Diaby 1.

The other Premier League games this weekend featuring clubs at the top are: Everton v West Ham (Sat 5.15pm) and Man Utd v Liverpool (Sun 1.30pm).

Chelsea remain third after Wednesday's games. With eight games to go Man Utd lead with 70 points, Arsenal 67, Chelsea 65, Liverpool 59, Everton 56 and Portsmouth 50.

The last five years in the Premier League
2002/03 Arsenal runners-up, 78 pts, Chelsea fourth, 67 pts
2003/04 Arsenal champions, 90 pts , Chelsea runners-up, 79 pts
2004/05 Chelsea champions, 95 pts, Arsenal runners-up, 83 pts
2005/06 Chelsea champions, 91 pts, Arsenal fourth, 67 pts
2006/07 Chelsea runners-up, 83 pts, Arsenal fourth, 68 pts

A welcome back to the Bridge for the first occasion to William Gallas since his move across town in 2006. He has yet to be on a losing side for his new club against the Blues drawing at the Emirates in May last season and scored the winner in first half stoppage time in this seasons reverse fixture before Christmas.

There are no suspensions on either side.

The referee is Mark Clattenburg. It's his first league game at Stamford Bridge since the 2-1 win over Portsmouth in October 2006.

Arsenal have won the Premier League three times in 1997/98, 2001/02 and 2003/04. Their last piece of silverware was the FA Cup in 2005 when they defeated Man Utd on penalties at the Millennium Stadium.

Chelsea's overall record against Arsenal in all competitions is: played 167, won 48, drawn 51, lost 68.

Head-to-head in the league at Stamford Bridge: played 70, won 22, drawn 25, lost 23.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING MATCH
Chelsea 1 Arsenal 1
Premiership, Sunday December 10th 2006, Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2) Hilário; Gérémi (Wright-Phillips 66), Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Makelele; Essien, Lampard; Ballack; Shevchenko (Robben 66), Drogba.
Manager Jose Mourinho.
Scorer Essien (84)
Booked A Cole, Drogba
Arsenal (4-5-1): Lehmann; Eboué, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy; Hleb, Fàbregas, Gilberto (c), Flamini, van Persie (Ljungberg 82); Abedayor.
Manager Arsène Wenger.
Scorer Flamini (78)
Booked Flamini, Lehmann
Referee Alan Wiley.
Crowd 41,917.
Michael Essien scored Chelsea's goal of the season. notas_de_prensa_archivo