PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V ARSENAL - PART ONE
Following this month's earlier win over Spurs, opposition from north London are the visitors in the next league home game. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look at the derby details…
TALKING POINTSFootball's oldest top-flight London derby is convened this weekend for the 182nd time. The Barclays Premier League leaders defend the best home record against the side in third, protecting the best away performance throughout the season to date.
It is also the meeting of two managers, one of whom has monopolised the success up to now: Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in all 10 previous meetings with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger - five wins, five draws.
Arsenal fans will hope for a sprightlier effort from their side than the corresponding league game at Emirates, when virtually the only shot on target was the one in their pre-match latte. Welcome to the home of London's only European Cup-winners, Gooners.
While the Champions League is again beyond the reach of the three other Premier League title challengers, Chelsea marched on with a convincing 2-0 victory in midweek and will hope for a kind draw on Friday morning at 11am.
For the first time every side pulled out of the Champions League bowls will have won their group in the earlier stage. Few of the other quarter-finalists - Barcelona, Bayern, the two Madrid sides, Dortmund, Paris St-Germain and Manchester United - will fancy playing the English league leaders over two legs.
Mourinho has never lost as manager of a last eight side in Europe. Chelsea have bowed out just twice at this stage, against Barcelona in 1999/2000 and Manchester United in 2010/11.
Amid the European excitement it may have escaped your attention that this weekend brings Wenger's 1,000th match in charge of the Gunners. Forty-eight of them have been against Chelsea, with 40 per cent of those defeats, 27 per cent draws.
His 500th, in August 2005, was also against Chelsea and ended in a 1-0 triumph for the Blues thanks, inevitably, to Didier Drogba.
The Ivorian, afford such a fantastic reception by every corner of Stamford Bridge as Galatasaray were cast aside in the Champions League, was the hammer of the Arsenal. The boots he donated to the club museum still probably have traces of Philippe Senderos' and Sebastien Squillaci's DNA between the studs.
It's not just Arsenal whose parties Chelsea have enjoyed spoiling - ask Bayern fans about 'unser pokal' in 'unser stadion'. Who could also forget the goals at Old Trafford in Alex Ferguson's 10th anniversary game in November 1996, when goals by Michael Duberry and Gianluca Vialli stole the fizz from the Scotsman's champers.
Victory for the Blues in this Saturday's early kick-off would open up a seven-point gap at the top before Manchester City host Fulham and Liverpool travel to Cardiff. Both those sides play a rearranged game in midweek: City are at Old Trafford for the Manchester derby while Liverpool entertain Gus Poyet's Sunderland.
Barclays Premier League fixtures
SaturdayChelsea v Arsenal 12.45pm - BT Sport
Cardiff v Liverpool 3pm
Everton v Swansea 3pm
Hull v West Brom 3pm
Manchester City v Fulham 3pm
Newcastle v Crystal Palace 3pm
Norwich v Sunderland 3pm
West Ham v Manchester United 5.30pm - Sky Sports
Sunday
Tottenham v Southampton 1.30pm - Sky Sports
Aston Villa v Stoke 4pm - Sky Sports
Tuesday
Arsenal v Swansea 7.45pm
Manchester United v Manchester City 7.45pm - Sky Sports
Newcastle v Everton 7.45pm
WednesdayWest Ham v Hull 7.45pm
Liverpool v Sunderland 8pm - Sky Sports
*Points won from games between the teams in the current top seven
The race for the Premier League Golden BootLuis Suarez (Liverpool) 25
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 18
Sergio Aguero (Man City) 15
Eden Hazard 13
Loic Remy (Newcastle) 13
Yaya Toure (Man City) 13
The race for the Premier League Golden Glove
Petr Cech 13
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) 13
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) 12
CHELSEA STATSChelsea have the best defence in the Barclays Premier League, conceding only 23 goals in 30 games including 13 clean sheets.
We have the best home record, gaining 41 points from a possible 45.
Chelsea have gained 14 points from losing positions this season, the best record in the Premier League.
The Blues have won 16 and drawn two of the 19 league games we have opened the scoring.
Chelsea are nine points up compared to the corresponding 30 fixtures last season.
We have gone 69 games since losing consecutive Premier League games.
In 2014 we have kept 10 clean sheets and conceded just seven goals in 16 games in all competitions.
Chelsea have won 20 and drawn four of our last 24 home Premier League games since QPR won at Stamford Bridge on 2 January last year.
Jose Mourinho is unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in all 91 domestic games in open play.
He takes charge of his 76th Premier League game at Stamford Bridge this weekend. He remains unbeaten gaining 193 points from a possible 225.
Premier League scorers (56)
Hazard 13 (3 pens), Eto'o 7, Oscar 6, Schurrle 6, Lampard 5 (1 pen), Torres 4, Ba 3, Ivanovic 3, Terry 2, Willian 2, own goals 2, Cahill 1, Mikel 1, Ramires 1.
League games sinceA home win: 0
A home draw: 3
A home defeat: 24
MILESTONES
Frank Lampard's next converted penalty will be his 50th for the Blues.
John Terry is due to make his 400th Premier League start.
If selected, Cesar Azpilicueta will make his 50th Premier League appearance.
Congratulations to Ramires who celebrates his 27th birthday on Monday.
ARSENAL STATSFormed 1886
Major trophies13 League championships, last in 2004
10 FA Cups, last in 2005
2 League Cups, last in 1993
12 FA Charity/Community Shields (1 shared), last in 2004
1 European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994
1 Fairs Cup in 1970
Arsenal have the best away record in the Premier League with the equal most wins (nine) and 29 points from 15 games.
Their wins have been at Fulham, Sunderland, Swansea, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Tottenham, two draws at West Brom and Southampton and four defeats at Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Stoke.
Arsenal have won only one game from a losing position this term.
They have won 12 points more than at the same stage last season.
The Gunners have won 18 of the 20 Premier League games when they opened the scoring.
Arsenal have not won this season when losing at half-time but have won all 12 of the games when they have been ahead at the break.
Arsenal have conceded 21 of their 28 Premier League goals away from home this term.
Manager Arsene Wenger
Days in charge: 6,382
Played: 999
Won: 572
Drawn: 235
Lost: 192
Premier League scorers (53)
Giroud 12 (1 pen), Ramsey 8, Walcott 5, Cazorla 4, Ozil 4, Podolski 3, Wilshere 3, Arteta 2 (2 pens), Bendtner 2, Mertesacker 2, Oxlade-Chamberlain 2, Rosicky 2, Flamini 1, Gnabry 1, Koscielny 1, Sagna 1.
League games sinceAn away win: 0
An away draw: 3
An away defeat: 1
WINDOW WATCHArsenal's completed January transfers
Ins Kim Kallstrom (Spartak Moscow, loan)
Outs Chuba Akpom (Coventry, loan), Anthony Jeffrey (Wycombe Wanderers, free), Nico Yennaris (Brentford, loan), Benik Afobe (Sheffield Wednesday, loan), Emmanuel Frimpong (Barnsley, undisclosed), Park Chu-Young (Watford, loan), Daniel Boateng (Hibernian, loan).
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLEAndre Marriner is the referee for his fourth Chelsea game of the season. His previous three were the Fulham win and West Brom draw at Stamford Bridge and the 2-0 victory at Derby in the FA Cup. He was the official when Arsenal last won at the Bridge in 2011.
OTHERWISE ENGAGEDWillian (one match) and Ramires (first of three) are suspended.
David Luiz has eight domestic yellow cards and is two bookings away from a two-match suspension
TALKING POINTSFootball's oldest top-flight London derby is convened this weekend for the 182nd time. The Barclays Premier League leaders defend the best home record against the side in third, protecting the best away performance throughout the season to date.
It is also the meeting of two managers, one of whom has monopolised the success up to now: Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in all 10 previous meetings with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger - five wins, five draws.
Arsenal fans will hope for a sprightlier effort from their side than the corresponding league game at Emirates, when virtually the only shot on target was the one in their pre-match latte. Welcome to the home of London's only European Cup-winners, Gooners.
While the Champions League is again beyond the reach of the three other Premier League title challengers, Chelsea marched on with a convincing 2-0 victory in midweek and will hope for a kind draw on Friday morning at 11am.
| KEY STATArsenal have won two of 20 away games against top-six finishers over the previous four seasons. They have lost three of four visits to teams in the top seven this term. |
For the first time every side pulled out of the Champions League bowls will have won their group in the earlier stage. Few of the other quarter-finalists - Barcelona, Bayern, the two Madrid sides, Dortmund, Paris St-Germain and Manchester United - will fancy playing the English league leaders over two legs.
Mourinho has never lost as manager of a last eight side in Europe. Chelsea have bowed out just twice at this stage, against Barcelona in 1999/2000 and Manchester United in 2010/11.
Amid the European excitement it may have escaped your attention that this weekend brings Wenger's 1,000th match in charge of the Gunners. Forty-eight of them have been against Chelsea, with 40 per cent of those defeats, 27 per cent draws.
His 500th, in August 2005, was also against Chelsea and ended in a 1-0 triumph for the Blues thanks, inevitably, to Didier Drogba.
The Ivorian, afford such a fantastic reception by every corner of Stamford Bridge as Galatasaray were cast aside in the Champions League, was the hammer of the Arsenal. The boots he donated to the club museum still probably have traces of Philippe Senderos' and Sebastien Squillaci's DNA between the studs.
It's not just Arsenal whose parties Chelsea have enjoyed spoiling - ask Bayern fans about 'unser pokal' in 'unser stadion'. Who could also forget the goals at Old Trafford in Alex Ferguson's 10th anniversary game in November 1996, when goals by Michael Duberry and Gianluca Vialli stole the fizz from the Scotsman's champers.
Victory for the Blues in this Saturday's early kick-off would open up a seven-point gap at the top before Manchester City host Fulham and Liverpool travel to Cardiff. Both those sides play a rearranged game in midweek: City are at Old Trafford for the Manchester derby while Liverpool entertain Gus Poyet's Sunderland.
Barclays Premier League fixtures
SaturdayChelsea v Arsenal 12.45pm - BT Sport
Cardiff v Liverpool 3pm
Everton v Swansea 3pm
Hull v West Brom 3pm
Manchester City v Fulham 3pm
Newcastle v Crystal Palace 3pm
Norwich v Sunderland 3pm
West Ham v Manchester United 5.30pm - Sky Sports
Sunday
Tottenham v Southampton 1.30pm - Sky Sports
Aston Villa v Stoke 4pm - Sky Sports
Tuesday
Arsenal v Swansea 7.45pm
Manchester United v Manchester City 7.45pm - Sky Sports
Newcastle v Everton 7.45pm
WednesdayWest Ham v Hull 7.45pm
Liverpool v Sunderland 8pm - Sky Sports
| Barclays Premier League table - top seven | ||||
| Pld | Gd | Pts | ||
| 1 | Chelsea | 30 | +33 | 66 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 29 | +41 | 62 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 29 | +25 | 62 |
| 4 | Man City | 27 | +44 | 60 |
| 5 | Tottenham | 30 | -1 | 53 |
| 6 | Everton | 28 | +12 | 51 |
| 7 | Man United | 29 | +12 | 48 |
| Premier London League | ||||
| Pld | Gd | Pts | ||
| 1 | Arsenal | 8 | +12 | 22 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 8 | +12 | 18 |
| 3 | Tottenham | 8 | -5 | 10 |
| 4 | West Ham | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| 5 | Fulham | 8 | -8 | 6 |
| 6 | C Palace | 7 | -10 | 3 |
| Top seven mini-league * | ||||
| Top | Pld | Gd | Pts | |
| 1 | Chelsea | 10 | 9 | 21 |
| 2 | Man City | 8 | 17 | 18 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 9 | 13 | 16 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 9 | -4 | 12 |
| 5 | Everton | 9 | -6 | 9 |
| 6 | Tottenham | 11 | -19 | 9 |
| 7 | Man Utd | 10 | -10 | 6 |
The race for the Premier League Golden BootLuis Suarez (Liverpool) 25
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 18
Sergio Aguero (Man City) 15
Eden Hazard 13
Loic Remy (Newcastle) 13
Yaya Toure (Man City) 13
The race for the Premier League Golden Glove
Petr Cech 13
Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) 13
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) 12
CHELSEA STATSChelsea have the best defence in the Barclays Premier League, conceding only 23 goals in 30 games including 13 clean sheets.
We have the best home record, gaining 41 points from a possible 45.
Chelsea have gained 14 points from losing positions this season, the best record in the Premier League.
The Blues have won 16 and drawn two of the 19 league games we have opened the scoring.
Chelsea are nine points up compared to the corresponding 30 fixtures last season.
We have gone 69 games since losing consecutive Premier League games.
In 2014 we have kept 10 clean sheets and conceded just seven goals in 16 games in all competitions.
Chelsea have won 20 and drawn four of our last 24 home Premier League games since QPR won at Stamford Bridge on 2 January last year.
Jose Mourinho is unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in all 91 domestic games in open play.
He takes charge of his 76th Premier League game at Stamford Bridge this weekend. He remains unbeaten gaining 193 points from a possible 225.
| Last six results | ||
| Feb 22 | Everton (h) | W 1-0 |
| Feb 26 | Galatasaray (Champions League a) | D 1-1 |
| Mar 1 | Fulham (a) | W 3-1 |
| Mar 8 | Tottenham (h) | W 4-0 |
| Mar 15 | Aston Villa (a) | L 0-1 |
| Mar 18 | Galatasaray (Champions League h) | W 2-0 |
Premier League scorers (56)
Hazard 13 (3 pens), Eto'o 7, Oscar 6, Schurrle 6, Lampard 5 (1 pen), Torres 4, Ba 3, Ivanovic 3, Terry 2, Willian 2, own goals 2, Cahill 1, Mikel 1, Ramires 1.
League games sinceA home win: 0
A home draw: 3
A home defeat: 24
| Chelsea's next three games | ||
| Sat 29 Mar | Crystal Palace away | 3pm |
| 1/2 Apr | Champions League quarter final | |
| Sat 5 Apr | Stoke City home | 5.30pm |
MILESTONES
Frank Lampard's next converted penalty will be his 50th for the Blues.
John Terry is due to make his 400th Premier League start.
If selected, Cesar Azpilicueta will make his 50th Premier League appearance.
Congratulations to Ramires who celebrates his 27th birthday on Monday.
ARSENAL STATSFormed 1886
Major trophies13 League championships, last in 2004
10 FA Cups, last in 2005
2 League Cups, last in 1993
12 FA Charity/Community Shields (1 shared), last in 2004
1 European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994
1 Fairs Cup in 1970
Arsenal have the best away record in the Premier League with the equal most wins (nine) and 29 points from 15 games.
Their wins have been at Fulham, Sunderland, Swansea, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Tottenham, two draws at West Brom and Southampton and four defeats at Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Stoke.
Arsenal have won only one game from a losing position this term.
They have won 12 points more than at the same stage last season.
The Gunners have won 18 of the 20 Premier League games when they opened the scoring.
Arsenal have not won this season when losing at half-time but have won all 12 of the games when they have been ahead at the break.
Arsenal have conceded 21 of their 28 Premier League goals away from home this term.
Manager Arsene Wenger
Days in charge: 6,382
Played: 999
Won: 572
Drawn: 235
Lost: 192
| Arsenal's last 10 year league history | ||
| Pts | Pos | |
| 2003/04 | 90 | 1st |
| 2004/05 | 83 | 2nd |
| 2005/06 | 67 | 4th |
| 2006/07 | 68 | 4th |
| 2007/08 | 83 | 3rd |
| 2008/09 | 72 | 4th |
| 2009/10 | 75 | 3rd |
| 2010/11 | 68 | 4th |
| 2011/12 | 70 | 3rd |
| 2012/13 | 73 | 4th |
| Last six results | ||
| Bayern Munich (Champions League h) | L 0-2 | |
| Feb 22 | Sunderland (h) | W 4-1 |
| Mar 1 | Stoke (a) | L 0-1 |
| Mar 8 | Everton (FA Cup h) | W 4-1 |
| Mar 11 | Bayern Munich (Champions League a) | D 1-1 |
| Mar 16 | Tottenham (a) | W 1-0 |
Premier League scorers (53)
Giroud 12 (1 pen), Ramsey 8, Walcott 5, Cazorla 4, Ozil 4, Podolski 3, Wilshere 3, Arteta 2 (2 pens), Bendtner 2, Mertesacker 2, Oxlade-Chamberlain 2, Rosicky 2, Flamini 1, Gnabry 1, Koscielny 1, Sagna 1.
League games sinceAn away win: 0
An away draw: 3
An away defeat: 1
WINDOW WATCHArsenal's completed January transfers
Ins Kim Kallstrom (Spartak Moscow, loan)
Outs Chuba Akpom (Coventry, loan), Anthony Jeffrey (Wycombe Wanderers, free), Nico Yennaris (Brentford, loan), Benik Afobe (Sheffield Wednesday, loan), Emmanuel Frimpong (Barnsley, undisclosed), Park Chu-Young (Watford, loan), Daniel Boateng (Hibernian, loan).
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLEAndre Marriner is the referee for his fourth Chelsea game of the season. His previous three were the Fulham win and West Brom draw at Stamford Bridge and the 2-0 victory at Derby in the FA Cup. He was the official when Arsenal last won at the Bridge in 2011.
OTHERWISE ENGAGEDWillian (one match) and Ramires (first of three) are suspended.
David Luiz has eight domestic yellow cards and is two bookings away from a two-match suspension
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