PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: ARSENAL V CHELSEA
Joining club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton to complete their in-detail derbybuild-up is former player Clive Walker…
TACTICAL BRIEF
London's pride is up for grabs as the capital's top two meet for the first time this season. Clive Walker assesses the prospects for two stylish outfits.
Key battles
'This is our second London derby of the season but it will be different to QPR. I can see it being cat-and-mouse, one for the purists, but lots of cleverness and fluid football. Both defences will have to be at their best.
'The one thing we know is that there will be a lot of creativity on show in this match: Juan Mata, Oscar, Eden Hazard for Chelsea and for Arsenal, Santi Cazorla. He has impressed people on the ball, and probes patiently while he's waiting for the right pass.
'Mikel Arteta orchestrates and allows Cazorla to have a pretty free rein. He makes them tick and the job of the more defensive-minded midfielders on our side is to close them down as quickly as possible.
'Ramires does well when facing play, running from deep. Whether it's on the right or left, where he played on Tuesday, he has the pace and energy to harass the opposition.
'Romeu and he were both excellent, but that was against Wolves: Arsenal away is a different proposition. I can see Mikel returning as he has been excellent this season. Robbie would want Frank Lampard in a derby game like this too. But he now knows he has options.
'It's important John Terry is still available. Of course the home fans will give him stick - and Ashley Cole - but he'll tell you it is water off a duck's back.
'There may be less concern about Gervinho in the centre than Lukas Podolski who looks like he is warming to the cause and he's certainly a threat and a target.
'He comes in from wide on the left, so Robbie Di Matteo has a big decision to make whether to throw in César Azpilicueta or keep Branislav Ivanovic in there.
'We know the height, defensive strength and experience Brana brings, and that might tip the balance. But I thought Azpi put in a terrific performance against Wolves. There were a few nervy passes early on - which a top side might have punished - but he was nice and bright going forward and very strong one-on-one at the back, without being asked too many questions.
'He looks to have quality on the ball with an excellent range of long and short passes and a trick or two at the other end, too. We haven't really witnessed it yet but he also has a monster throw-in apparently.
'The other thing is he has lightning pace - that is always useful against Arsenal. Remember the issues we had with the high defensive line in the home game last season.
'We may not have Drogba, who used to scare the living daylights out of Arsenal, but if I were them I'd be worried about the form of the three behind Fernando Torres. Juan Mata, Victor Moses, Oscar, Eden Hazard… whoever plays there, we're seeing terrific movement now, and it's bringing exciting football. I think Arsenal's centre-backs will find Hazard a real handful.
'Mata was outstanding in midweek. That short break seems to have energised him and he is dominating matches on the ball again. But it will not be so easy to find the space he needs against Arsenal - they're a quality side.
'It will be a big test for Abou Diaby to track those players and their fast interplay. They are fortunate to have Thomas Vermaelen (pictured below) back in the centre to partner Laurent Koscielny too, because to me Per Mertesacker still struggles at times. It was great to see Fernando Torres hit the net again; we need him firing on all cylinders in this one.
'I still feel Arsenal's full-backs are a little bit of an Achilles heel for them defensively. They leave gaps, especially on the right. Victor Moses might be involved after putting in some storming runs in the last few matches. He could really have a go at Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs and cause them lots of problems, especially with Ashley overlapping.'
Squad news
Roberto Di Matteo welcomes back Frank Lampard who has overcome an ankle niggle but Daniel Sturridge misses a fourth match due to a hamstring strain.
For Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen is due to return from illness but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is out with an ankle injury. Vito Mannone continues between the posts.
The game is also expected to come too early for Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and defender Bacary Sagna.
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