EPL ~ Chelsea vs Arsenal
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CHELSEA V ARSENAL
I'll shoot down the Gunners
Sunday, October 3 2010
Chelsea v Arsenal
11:00pm - Mio Channel 102 / 110
CHELSEA superstar Didier Drogba cannot wait to face Arsenal this weekend — and has vowed to shoot down their title challenge.
The Blues take on the Gunners at Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing a win will take them seven points clear of their championship rivals.
Carlo Ancelotti's side currently top the Premier League with 15 points but suffered a shock 1-0 reverse to Manchester City last week.
Arsenal sit third in the table after they lost 3-2 at home to West Brom on Saturday. And Drogba revealed he is relishing the chance to pile even more misery on Arsene Wenger's side.
The Ivory Coast hitman said: "I love playing big games and I love playing against Arsenal. "I always say that Arsenal is one of my favourite teams.
"When I was playing in France, Arsenal was an example for us because there were all these French players who used to play in the French league and went abroad to play for Arsenal with a French manager.
"So to play against them for me means a lot."
Chelsea got back to winning ways with an impressive 2-0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday. And Drogba has vowed to make it two on the bounce against the Gunners. He added: "I don't think we can afford to lose a second game, especially against Arsenal."
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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti to take charge of Arsenal clash despite death of his father in Italy
Bereaved: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of Chelsea's crunch Premier League clash against Arsenal despite his father passing away on Wednesday night.
Ancelotti will return to Italy for the funeral, which takes place on Saturday, before returning to England, and the dug-out, for Sunday's game.
The Blues boss had been managing Chelsea's impressive start to the campaign while travelling back and forth to his father's bedside in Reggiolo, near Parma.
A statement on Chelsea's official website read: 'Carlo Ancelotti's father Giuseppe passed away in Italy last night aged 87 with his son at his side. 'Everyone at Chelsea Football Club sends our deepest condolences to Carlo and his family.
They are all in our thoughts at this time.
'The funeral will take place in Italy on Saturday. Carlo will return to London for Sunday's match versus Arsenal.'
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Havent learn the lesson yet? Malouda talk big prior to the City match and Chelsea lost. Now Drogba? 
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welll for past few matches against Arsenal
Drogba never fails to score against arsenal....
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True also, maybe it's because Arsenal's defence find it difficult to mark those big strong strikers like Drogba... My personal belief is Chelsea will win this... Arsenal's best chance is for Nasri to have an amazing performance...
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Need Nasri to dive to get penalty or else gunners fire blanks. chelski to win.
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hi zocoss,i agree wth u
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Originally posted by CKeer: Havent learn the lesson yet? Malouda talk big prior to the City match and Chelsea lost. Now Drogba?
i feel likewise.
but then city are chelsea's nemesis.
chelsea seem to do better against arsenal.
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i dun mind
Drogba score goals and win Arsenal.....
I onli scared where they lost... they kena hit back by other...
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RAY WILKINS is backing Didier Drogba to fire Chelsea to victory against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Blues will seriously dent the title ambitions of their London rivals with a win at Stamford Bridge. And Wilkins believes Drogba, who has netted 12 goals in 10 starts against the Gunners, will do the business once again.
Chelsea's assistant boss said: "He scores against everybody because he is a world-class footballer. "He always does extremely well in big games. I think he is a player that rises to the occasion and with the spotlight on us he will do that on Sunday."
Carlo Ancelotti will be on the bench despite the death of his father Guiseppe. And Wilkins insists the players are determined to pick up three points as a tribute to Ancelotti Snr.
He added: "It's obviously extremely unpleasant. "The players were down yesterday and they were saddened by the news, so yesterday's session was not as bright as it should have been. "But Carlo is back on Saturday. He will join us in the hotel on Saturday night and will be on the touchline on Sunday."
England midfielder Frank Lampard remains sidelined after undergoing hernia surgery. He recovered from the operation on schedule but is currently battling to overcome a slight groin strain.
Wilkins said: "It has given him a little problem neither he nor we anticipated. He joined us for part of a training session and didn't feel comfortable. "It is important we get it right for Frank and for us. It's important he is fully ready to play at the top-level again."
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Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia ruled out of Arsenal's showdown with Chelsea
Out: Cesc Fabregas won't line up against Chelsea on Sunday
Arsenal will be without captain Cesc Fabregas for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The 23-year-old midfielder was left out of the Spain squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland and is not considered fit enough to lead the Gunners this weekend as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained almost two weeks ago.
Blow: Arsene Wenger
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia also remains sidelined after missing the midweek Champions League win at Partizan Belgrade with an elbow injury, meaning Lukasz Fabianski is again set to deputise.
Manager Arsene Wenger also confirmed today that left-back Kieran Gibbs will be out for two to three weeks with a calf injury which will also see the 21-year-old miss England Under-21s' European Championship play-off against Romania.
Wenger said: 'Fabregas is not fit to play in this one and nor is Almunia. "We lost Gibbs as well on Tuesday night with a calf problem and he is out of the England squad as well. He is out for two to three weeks.'
Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Aaron Ramsey (leg), Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie (both ankle) are still out, but Abou Diaby returns to the squad after an ankle problem.
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Arsene: Drog can be a puppy
ARSENE WENGER denies Arsenal can’t cope with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba
Flying high: Didier Drogba has tormented Arsenal for years, and could do the same this weekend
ARSENE WENGER says anyone who claims Arsenal are intimidated by The Drog are barking up the wrong tree.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has never lost to the Gunners and has 12 goals in as many games, with nine wins and three draws.
Yet Wenger is adamant his team will not be bullied by him at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. The Arsenal boss said: “Drogba is a complete striker, which is why he has scored goals against many teams.
“We should not make an obsession out of one Chelsea player because they have a few who can score goals.
Often steamrollered in the transfer market by Chelsea’s muscle, Arsenal have suffered a similar fate on the pitch in recent duels with their London rivals. Arsenal have won only two of 14 games since Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 and it looked like men against boys last season, when Carlo Ancelotti’s team won home and away on their way to the title.
But Wenger retaliated: ‘What, for you, is physical strength? How can you explain Spain won the World Cup and Barcelona beat Chelsea in the Champions League?
‘Football is not only down to physique. It’s down to intelligence, technique, mobility. There is not one way. That’s what makes it interesting.
‘Did Didier Drogba score last week against Manchester City? No. He played against Kolo Toure and when Toure played here you said Toure did not have the strength to handle him. So is he suddenly stronger when he joins City?
‘History does not win you games. If we turn up with a great performance, I am convinced we will beat them.
‘Are Chelsea a good team? Yes, but we can beat a good team. It is easier to play them when they have lost two games than two weeks ago, that is for sure. Chelsea were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Newcastle and then lost to City last Saturday in the league.
Wenger added: “Every defeat makes you just a fraction smaller.”
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Wanker is a dumb fool.... he probably never voyeur the game between Chelsea & Barcelona properly!
Everyone who watch the game knows how Barca won the couple of encounters with Chelsea. Just think of world cup Uruguay's "two GK in one match".
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Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Ramires, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Subs: Turnbull, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Sturridge, Van Aanholt, Kakuta, McEachran.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Diaby, Nasri, Wilshere, Song, Arshavin, Chamakh.
Subs: Szczesny, Rosicky, Vela, Denilson, Djourou, Eboue, Emmanuel-Thomas.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
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Koscielny should have scored. Good start by Arsenal.
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chelsea seem to favour attacking from the left.
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arsenal are slightly better. chelsea are so predictable always attacking from the left. the right side retarded?
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Are Chelsea playing at home? How come it look's like Arsenal are the home side...
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chelsea home.
amazing goal by drogba.
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diaby and song make no positive contribution
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Right side anelka lazy...
Ivanovic not the best to running back.
Maybe if we have Bosingwa back, can see him getting onto leftbacks :D
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anelka suck.
he cant pass and he shoots like a wimp.
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This looks like another sucker punch about to happen. Arsenal attack like hell then Chelsea score another to makeit 2 - 0... Lol.
Used to it liao...
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REF FUCKING KELONG! 5TH GOAL DISALLOW ALREADY!