Why defeat tonight would cost Arsenal or Chelsea the title

By Steve Anglesey in Laptop with Martin Lipton

Published 11:20 27/12/10

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Only one game. But what a game it should be.

And while neither Arsene Wenger nor Carlo Ancelotti will concede the title if they lose tonight, the writing, surely, will be on the wall.

With Manchester United suddenly starting to click through the gears at the precise point of the campaign when you can devote all your energies to domestic affairs, the importance of the clash at The Emirates, for both sides, cannot be overstated.

The fact that United play again tomorrow, with both Chelsea and Arsenal having another 24 hours to dwell on events before seeking to respond on Wednesday, only adds to the pressure.

Recent history between the clubs certainly favours Chelsea. After all, they have won the last five meetings, have Frank Lampard back in the starting line-up for the first time in four months and have Didier Drogba, the scourge of the Gunners, in their ranks.

In addition is Arsenal's horrible record against Chelsea and United, no wins - and 10 defeats - in their last 11 games against their two biggest rivals, with losses at both Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford already this season.

But then the balance comes in the shape of Chelsea's winter slump - and one win in seven, no victories in five, and 15 points dropped out of 21 is far, far more than a "wobble".

Ancelotti's claim that his side had turned the corner and ended their "bad moment" at Spurs might have had some validity in the minds of his players had they had the opportunity to back it up on the pitch against United last weekend.

Snow means that it is more than a fortnight since Chelsea last played, with the danger that the momentum they took away from White Hart Lane may have dissipated over the intervening period.

Arsenal have Cesc Fabregas back as skipper, with Wenger considering recalling Robin Van Persie in place of a leg-weary Marouanne Chamakh - who should have scored at least two in what was an unfortunate loss at the Bridge back in October - up front, to counteract, they hope, the Lampard effect.

The psychological impact of the England midfield, however, is even bigger than his effect as a player - and that is massive in itself.

As Ancelotti conceded, "in the market there is no player capable of replacing Lampard" and two weeks of intensive work of the training ground may have helped to get something close to match-sharpness into the 32-year-old.

Lampard means Chelsea's transition from defence to attack, moving the ball through the midfield, will be quicker than it has been in the past months, making Ancelotti's side more dangerous.

And while Chelsea's opponents have been able to concentrate on blunting the strikers and then concentrating on set-piece defending to negate the aerial power of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, suddenly the champions have a huge extra weapon in their armoury, with Lampard able to shoot from distance or make those trademark late runs into the box.

Just to add to the mix, along with the animosity between the two sets of fans - although Wenger and Ancelotti admire and respect each other in a fitting manner - are the odd feuds between the players.

Fabregas and Lampard have been at it, hammer and tongs, ever since the 2007 Carling Cup Final skirmish and there are sure to be a couple of meaty challenges going on.

Wenger will look to Samir Nasri to be the catalyst of his side's attacking forays, will expect Andriy Arshavin to show he is a big game player and needs Abou Diaby and Alex Song to keep Michael Essien's power-thrusts to a minimum.

At the same time, Drogba's track record against Arsenal suggests preventing him from scoring again may be the key element if Arsenal are to have any chance of winning a game they have to win.

Wenger's men have already lost five times, three of them on home soil, while Chelsea have been beaten four times themselves. Neither manager needs reminding that United, despite just one win in seven away matches, remain the only unbeaten side in the country.

A draw would suit nobody except United - already five ahead of Arsenal and a further point clear of Chelsea - and Manchester City, and while the victory both sides desire would put them back into the heart of the mix, for the loser there is the prospect of kicking off on Wednesday down in fifth, and under extra pressure, should Spurs become the first London club to beat Newcastle this season on Tuesday afternoon.

This is, without doubt, crunch time. On a bitterly cold night, the atmosphere will be red hot.

Wenger and Ancelotti know it, too. And if it does finish without a winner, the next sound you will hear will be a Scottish cackle, all the way from Alderley Edge.

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