Arsenal had to endure an interruption in their dressing room lighting before kick-off in Belgrade midweek, but no doubt it was preferable to the total power failure they experienced last weekend at home to Roberto Di Matteo's West Bromwich Albion. The north Londoners were playing at home having seen Chelsea edged out at Manchester City but once again could not close the gap at the top. The failure to see off 'lesser' sides is a troublesome trait that Arsène Wenger's team was supposed to have ditched after good results against Bolton and Blackburn. However, it is against the teams at the top that Arsenal's problems have most obviously manifested. Last season they failed to earn a point against either Chelsea or Manchester United, and have lost their last four in all competitions against Chelsea, and have not beaten the Mancunians for five matches.
Chelsea are still without Frank Lampard, with Carlo Ancelotti, mouring the sad passing of his father, likely to choose between Ramires and Yury Zhirkov on the left of midfield. With Salomon Kalou, Yossi Benayoun and Jose Bosingwa looking for full fitness, he may feel he can trust one or two younger squad members again at some stage. Gael Kakuta, for example, has two assists in his last two appearances. Daniel Sturridge and Patrick van Aanholt have both scored goals, and Josh McEachran has looked very impressive in midfield. Didier Drogba returns from his Champions League suspension this weekend. His combined total of ten goals and assists is the best in Barclays Premier League; Florent Malouda has six, Salomon Kalou five, the same as Arsenal's highest-ranked, Theo Walcott.
According to some reports Vermaelen may return from an Achilles problem in time to face his favourite Ivorian again this weekend. In which case he will most likely partner 25-year-old Laurent Koscielny who, after a promising start in English football looked fatally hesitant against West Brom alongside fellow new boy Sebastian Squillaci.
Wenger has to choose between his two much-villified goalkeepers. Manuel Almunia made several mistakes last weekend against the Baggies while Lukasz Fabianski stepped in for the Champions League and saved a penalty. However, the last time he faced Chelsea he picked the ball out of the net four times at home. Upfront, Wenger appears to have bought well in dangerous target man Marouane Chamakh (pictured below playing for Bordeaux), who looks the type of forward to attack crosses fired in from the wings. That has not been a great feature of Arsenal's play for some years though. Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are ruled out, but Nicolas Bendtner may be fit to return.
CHELSEA STATS
It is 158 games and over four years since Chelsea last lost back to back Premier League matches (Blackburn and Newcastle at the end of 2005/06).
Since Man City defeated us in February, we have won all eight league games at Stamford Bridge conceding two and scoring 39.
We have scored 34 since an away team last scored here (John Carew for Villa).
Chelsea have won 22 and lost just one of our last 24 Barclays Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge scoring in all of them.
Our blank score sheet at Eastlands was only the second time we failed to find the net in 49 Premier League games and the first in 2010. The other was at Birmingham on Boxing Day last year when Joe Hart was also in goal.
KEY STAT
Didier Drogba has scored 12 goals against Arsenal in 10 starts and two substitute appearances since joining us in 2004.
ARSENAL STATS
Arsenal's five years without silverware is the worst period since the eight-year gap between 1979 (FA Cup) and 1987 (League Cup).
Alex Song's red card at Sunderland two weeks ago was the 50th for Arsenal in the Premier League under Arsène Wenger.
Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League away matches (14 in all competitions), since the goalless draw at Aston Villa in January. They have conceded seven league goals in six this term.
The Gunners are unbeaten away this term but have only won one of their last seven Barclays Premier League games away from the Emirates.
Manuel Almunia has saved five of the last six Premier League penalties he's faced at the Emirates.
CHELSEA TEAM
1 Petr Cech
2 Branislav Ivanovic
33 Alex
26 John Terry (c)
3 Ashley Cole
5 Michael Essien
12 John Mikel Obi
7 Ramires
39 Nicolas Anelka
11 Didier Drogba
15 Florent Malouda
Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 38 Patrick van Aanholt, 18 Yury Zhirkov, 46 Josh McEachran, 44 Gael Kakuta, 23 Daniel Sturridge.
ARSENAL TEAM
Fabianski
Sagna
Clichy
Squallaci
Koscielny
Song
Diaby
Nasri
Wilshere
Arshavin
Chamakh
Subs: Szczesny, Djourou, Denilson, Eboue, Rosicky, Emmanuel-Thomas, Vela.
Chelsea are still without Frank Lampard, with Carlo Ancelotti, mouring the sad passing of his father, likely to choose between Ramires and Yury Zhirkov on the left of midfield. With Salomon Kalou, Yossi Benayoun and Jose Bosingwa looking for full fitness, he may feel he can trust one or two younger squad members again at some stage. Gael Kakuta, for example, has two assists in his last two appearances. Daniel Sturridge and Patrick van Aanholt have both scored goals, and Josh McEachran has looked very impressive in midfield. Didier Drogba returns from his Champions League suspension this weekend. His combined total of ten goals and assists is the best in Barclays Premier League; Florent Malouda has six, Salomon Kalou five, the same as Arsenal's highest-ranked, Theo Walcott.
According to some reports Vermaelen may return from an Achilles problem in time to face his favourite Ivorian again this weekend. In which case he will most likely partner 25-year-old Laurent Koscielny who, after a promising start in English football looked fatally hesitant against West Brom alongside fellow new boy Sebastian Squillaci.
Wenger has to choose between his two much-villified goalkeepers. Manuel Almunia made several mistakes last weekend against the Baggies while Lukasz Fabianski stepped in for the Champions League and saved a penalty. However, the last time he faced Chelsea he picked the ball out of the net four times at home. Upfront, Wenger appears to have bought well in dangerous target man Marouane Chamakh (pictured below playing for Bordeaux), who looks the type of forward to attack crosses fired in from the wings. That has not been a great feature of Arsenal's play for some years though. Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are ruled out, but Nicolas Bendtner may be fit to return.
CHELSEA STATS
It is 158 games and over four years since Chelsea last lost back to back Premier League matches (Blackburn and Newcastle at the end of 2005/06).
Since Man City defeated us in February, we have won all eight league games at Stamford Bridge conceding two and scoring 39.
We have scored 34 since an away team last scored here (John Carew for Villa).
Chelsea have won 22 and lost just one of our last 24 Barclays Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge scoring in all of them.
Our blank score sheet at Eastlands was only the second time we failed to find the net in 49 Premier League games and the first in 2010. The other was at Birmingham on Boxing Day last year when Joe Hart was also in goal.
KEY STAT
Didier Drogba has scored 12 goals against Arsenal in 10 starts and two substitute appearances since joining us in 2004.
ARSENAL STATS
Arsenal's five years without silverware is the worst period since the eight-year gap between 1979 (FA Cup) and 1987 (League Cup).
Alex Song's red card at Sunderland two weeks ago was the 50th for Arsenal in the Premier League under Arsène Wenger.
Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League away matches (14 in all competitions), since the goalless draw at Aston Villa in January. They have conceded seven league goals in six this term.
The Gunners are unbeaten away this term but have only won one of their last seven Barclays Premier League games away from the Emirates.
Manuel Almunia has saved five of the last six Premier League penalties he's faced at the Emirates.
CHELSEA TEAM
1 Petr Cech
2 Branislav Ivanovic
33 Alex
26 John Terry (c)
3 Ashley Cole
5 Michael Essien
12 John Mikel Obi
7 Ramires
39 Nicolas Anelka
11 Didier Drogba
15 Florent Malouda
Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 38 Patrick van Aanholt, 18 Yury Zhirkov, 46 Josh McEachran, 44 Gael Kakuta, 23 Daniel Sturridge.
ARSENAL TEAM
Fabianski
Sagna
Clichy
Squallaci
Koscielny
Song
Diaby
Nasri
Wilshere
Arshavin
Chamakh
Subs: Szczesny, Djourou, Denilson, Eboue, Rosicky, Emmanuel-Thomas, Vela.
