Jose
Mourinho and Arsene Wenger renew their rivalry on Saturday as Arsenal make
the trip across London to face Chelsea.
Wenger has notoriously struggled against Mourinho, winning just one of the
last 14 meetings between teams managed by the pair and that came in the
Community Shield clash earlier this season at Wembley.
The reluctance of the two managers to shake hands following that 1-0 was the
latest evidence of the frosty feeling between the pair and they both head
into this weekend with the pressure mounting.
Defending champions Chelsea have made a stuttering start to their title
defence, picking up just four points from five games, including suffering
defeats to Crystal Palace and Everton while Arsenal have gone four games
unbeaten in the league - but suffered a dismal Champions League defeat
against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
It's possible that Chelsea could end up bottom of the Premier League if
Arsenal are victorious and other results go a certain way.
Team news
Chelsea will be without Willian and Pedro for the lunchtime kick-off.
The Brazilian picked up a hamstring strain in Chelsea's win over Maccabi Tel
Aviv while Pedro did not make the squad for the European fixture and is now
definitely out for the vital clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend as well.
Petr Cech is expected to return for Arsenal against his former club having
been rested for the midweek defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
Per Mertesacker hopes to feature after a four-match absence due to an
illness.
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten against Arsenal in their last seven Barclays Premier
League encounters (W4 D3).
The Gunners have failed to score in their last four Premier League matches
against the Blues and have managed just two goals in their last seven league
games against them.
Eden Hazard has scored in the Blues' last two PL clashes with Arsenal at
Stamford Bridge, with both goals coming in the first half from the penalty
spot.
Jose Mourinho has never lost successive league home games as a manager.
Theo Walcott has scored 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League starts for
Arsenal.
The Gunners have won seven and lost none of their last eight Premier League
away matches.
Merson's prediction
I have to go with Chelsea. Their record against Arsenal is fantastic, they
just don't lose to them. I know Arsenal won in the Community Shield, but
that was a bigger game for Arsenal than it was for Chelsea.
Chelsea made changes in the Champions League, but they had a home game.
Arsenal got it horribly wrong. Playing away you cannot make six changes. It
was very naive of Arsene Wenger. You have to get off to a positive start,
especially with Bayern Munich in the group.
After what happened in midweek, it has swung all the pressure onto Arsenal,
not Chelsea.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)
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