Battle of the Bridge

Perhaps the defining hours of this season’s Barclay’s English Premier League will be those between 18:00 and 20:00 CAT, when the league’s top four all play each other.

Chelsea host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, where they haven’t lost for four years, to, non other than, the Gunners. The two sides have been the formula for a breath-taking fixture in the last 3 seasons. Chelsea have had the lion share of victories, with the North Londoners winning only one of the last eleven games in all competitions, and that one being Sunday’s corresponding fixture. A Willian Gallas first-half header was enough to separate the two teams when they locked horns earlier this season at the Emirates. Their league positions go further in accentuating the competitiveness of the match, as both sides have realistic hopes of lifting the silver-ware at the end of the season. With only eight games left for both sides, Arsenal, three points less, closely trail Man United, who lead the race with 70 points. Chelsea follow immediately behind, two points behind their Sunday opponents.

The Blues will be hoping for full recovery from Wednesday’s thriller at White Hart Lane, where the back of the net was slammed eight times. One thing, however, they will want to take with them to the Bridge, from the Spurs’ game, is the fluidity and quickness with which they played. With Drogba at his scoring self again, and Frank Lampard and Michael Essien in fantastic form, Avram Grant can afford something of a smile, surely. And as if that’s not enough, the tactician has got enough width in his side, with England midfielder Joe Cole playing some of his best football, and namesake Ashley beginning to pick up from where he left – on the other side of London.

Five draws in six games is not a statistic Arsene Wenger will be too pleased about. The Gunners seem to be seeing the title slip from their hands, after some disappointing results in the last couple of weeks. They will definitely need to raise their bar on Sunday, if they hope to get anything out of the game; and if they really are to challenge United on the summit, they will need to get something out of the Battle of the Bridge. But can they raise their bar so promptly? That, we know, they can do; just like they’ve done so often under the leadership of inspirational Wenger. They will need to be in AC Milan mode on Sunday if they are to challenge such a robust, stern and psychologically potent Chelsea. Like their North London rivals did in the midweek, Arsenal will be looking to play a quick, counter-attacking game, while keeping it impermeable at the back. This means Belarus magician Alexndre Hleb and England wonder-kid Theo Walcott being nowhere short of their best. A resilient Emmanuel Adebayor will also need to be in top-notch form as he will probably be expected to take the lone role up-front.

There will be no love lost when the two giants meet, with Ashley Cole, Nicholas Anelka and William Gallas all facing their former clubs. An away victory for the Gunners will mean a Premiership double over one of their fiercest rivals. And a victory for the Blues will not only mean revenge for their undoing at the Emirates, but an invaluable one point above their London foes.

Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal