Another match-watering clash in tonight's Premier League fixtures will be between league leader Arsenal and their London arch-rvials Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. When these two teams meet, it will be more than 3 points at stake as the Blues look to gun down the Gunners without their talismanic striker Didier Drogba.
This is the top flight's oldest London derby, dating from a 2-1 Chelsea win in 1907, and Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea in any game since February 2004. Wenger will be looking to end that record, especially when two of the Blues most consistent goalscorers against their north London neighbours will be absent on Sunday: Michael Essien, scorer of two fantastic goals against them in the league last season, serves the last of three suspensions; and Didier Drogba, with five in that unbeaten run, has recently been under the surgeon's knife.
However, the Frenchman also has problems of his own and may be forced to play without key players like Cesc Fabregas, Matthieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb.
Arsenal captain William Gallas will also be meeting his ex-colleagues, as he was part of the deal which took Cole to Stamford Bridge during August 2006, in which he moved in the opposite direction.
Wenger is in no doubt of the important role the 30-year-old plays within the emerging Arsenal squad.``Gallas is key for me,'' declared Wenger. ``He has taken his role as captain very seriously and is leading the team well on and off the field.''
Such games could prove to be very tight matches, and the determining factor in the final score could be players like Gallas, who helped the Gunners snatch a draw against Manchester United earlier in the season.
Arsenal's overlapping fullbacks- Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy will be important in Arsenal's attacks but it does leave gaps at the back. Shevchenko will most probably start upfront and he will certainly look to exploit the weaknesses in Arsenal's backline. If he wants to justify his huge price tag, this match will be a good chance for him to prove his worth.
This feisty clash will start at 11.55pm tonight on Football Channel 27.
Official Match Preview
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