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Preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea

16 December 2007 - 11:05

<A HREF='match_feature.php'>Super Sunday</A> The festive football begins as Arsenal take on Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium at 4pm on Sunday. Mercurial Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas could return from injury, but Didier Drogba could miss the crucial clash between two of the Premiership's top sides.

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There has been talk all week about the return of Ashley Cole to the Emirates Stadium, and <A HREF='article.php?id=2145&title=Cashley+Cole+awaits+Gunners'>Ashley is ready</A> for his first trip back to the Emirates.



Arsene Wenger has been keen to emphasise that the game should be about football and <A HREF='article.php?id=2178&title=Wenger:+Chelsea+not+a+war'>not a war</A>, but all of the teams realise the importance of such a <A HREF='article.php?id=2147&title=Rosicky+awaits+Chelsea'>important clash</A>.



Didier Drogba's absence will be crucial for Arsenal, delighted that the man who always seems to grab goals against the Gunners is out injured, but Andriy Shevchenko will play, and <A HREF='article.php?id=2163&title=Wenger+wary+of+Shev'>Wenger is just as wary</A> of the Ukrainian as the Ivorian.





<B>Injuries and Suspensions</B>

Ricardo Carvalho and Florent Malouda face late fitness tests and Alex Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas have all begun training again but may not play. Robin van Persie's return from injury in midweek went to plan and RvP could start.



Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack will all certainly miss out on the crucial Premiership encounter.





<B>Wenger: Grant has done well</B>

"Chelsea have been discreet but efficient.

"Avram Grant has got a completely different profile to Mourinho, he is not very noisy.



"But his team is efficient and that is important. His results speak for him. He has done well. Credit to him."





<B>Squads</B>

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gilberto, Diarra, Rosicky, van Persie, Adebayor, Lehmann, Senderos, Traore, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Eduardo. (Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini)



Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben Haim, Terry, A Cole, J Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Malouda, Sidwell, Kalou, Pizarro, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Obi.





<B>Eyefootball Premiership Predictor</B>



Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea



What a cracker. Ashley Cole's first return to Arsenal since his controversial move will make the game an aggressive affair, and the return of Cesc Fabregas could possibly give Arsenal the morale boost to help get them back into form. Chelsea need Shevchenko to perform in the absence of Drogba if they are to get something from this game.



Goalscorer: Emmanuel Adebayor

Written by majicka