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Chelsea logo
Premier League
Mar 22, 2014 at 12.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

6-0

Eto'o (5'), Schurrle (7'), Hazard (17' pen.), Oscar (42', 65'), Salah (69')
FT(HT: 4-0)

Preview: Chelsea vs. Arsenal

Sports Mole previews Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal as they visit Chelsea in arguably the biggest game of the Premier League title run-in yet.

Arsene Wenger takes charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th time when they visit Chelsea this weekend.

In arguably the biggest game of the title run-in to date, the Gunners will try to cut the gap on the table-topping Blues to one point on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout his 18-year reign, Wenger has overseen three Premier League championship wins and four FA Cup successes, and victory at Stamford Bridge would vastly improve his chances of adding to that and ending Arsenal's eight-year trophy drought.

His opposite number, though, remains unbeaten in 75 home league matches as Chelsea boss, although the Champions League quarter-finalists did suffer a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their last outing.

The hosts will be without the suspended duo of one-named Brazilians Ramires and Willian, both of whom saw red at Villa Park much to the dismay of Jose Mourinho, who was also sent off by referee Chris Foy.

Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who produced an immense display last weekend to thwart former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor in the North London derby, will likely have Samuel Eto'o to contend with.

The Cameroonian striker, who turned 33 last week, has netted in each of his last two games and has made a habit of scoring important goals against the division's other top sides this season.

Nemanja Matic, who is ineligible for European competition, will return to fill the void left by Ramires and could be joined in midfield by both Frank Lampard and David Luiz, with Mourinho having favoured a more cautious approach against Chelsea's title rivals so far this campaign.

Injury won't deny Ashley Cole the chance to face the club he left to sign for the Blues, but Cesar Azpilicueta will. Cole is fit again following a knee problem, but will only be among the home substitutes.

Wenger heads into his landmark match without four of his most senior figures. The sidelined Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere will all miss Arsenal's game with their capital rivals.

The visitors could name the same starting XI that beat Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, although Mathieu Flamini could be picked instead of Lukas Podolski if Wenger feels an extra midfielder is needed.

Recent form

Chelsea: WLWWDW

Arsenal: WDWLWL

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Luiz, Lampard; Hazard, Schurrle, Eto'o

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud

Sports Mole says: 3-0


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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho looks on against Galatasaray during his team's Champions League match on February 26, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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