Alas! There will be no classic Jose Mourinho-Arsene Wenger feuds over the touchline this time, but still there will be plenty of action as the two London clubs locks horns today evening for three crucial points.
Yes, it’s Arsenal against Chelsea, a rivalry that starts with Pride of London and that never ends. Arsenal fans mock Chelsea with the history, where Chelsea fans have a go with the elusive Champions league title and Arsenal’s Premier League drought for over a decade.
Today, the two meet in a “derby” devoid of long-standing antagonism and the one that fits the Premier League’s marketing strategy perfectly. Both sides are exactly at the opposite ends of the point table, but Wenger knows by beating Chelsea they will surely be sending a message to the rivals that they are the title favourites.
Wenger will be wary of the potential threat that Chelsea caused Arsenal at the Emirates so many times since the Blues have a good record against the Gunners.
Diego Costa was at the centre of controversy during Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in September after clashing with Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista, who was sent off for retaliating against the Spain striker after a scuffle.
Petr Cech’s cross-town switch from Chelsea to Arsenal still baffles a lot of Chelsea fans and a lot of them are very angry with the move. Same goes with Francesc Fabregas’ move to Chelsea from Barcelona. Fabregas was a love child to Arsenal fans before he moved to Barcelona. Later he joined Chelsea under Arsenal fans’ nemesis, Mourinho. Fabregas also won the Premier league title last season under Mourinho with Chelsea, which he failed to win under Wenger. Both Cech and Fabregas could be subjected to a social media fight after the match.
The ill-feeling between the two bred bitterness among the supporters and it allowed the clubs to be portrayed as conflicting archetypes: pragmatists v purists. But that only feeds the hype.
Arsenal have a promising record against the Blues when Mourinho is not in charge, so Chelsea will have to put in a strong performance if they’re to earn a win today. But last time Guus Hiddink visited Arsenal, he won 4-1 at the Emirates with the big boys like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda and Michael Ballack.
Hiddink’s side have drawn four of their last five league outings, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re able to hold the Gunners to a stalemate at the Emirates.
With both sides having all their key players back from injury, it will be some filthy affair today. But it will be observed on social media as to which fan base have the last laugh.
