Post by Salem6 on Oct 17, 2003 17:17:42 GMT
Highbury
Saturday, 18 October
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Referee:
Paul Durkin (Portland)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira is suspended as he serves a one-match ban, while Ray Parlour's ankle injury gives Edu the chance to come in.
Freddie Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp are back in contention after ankle and calf injuries respectively.
Chelsea could replace Joe Cole with Juan Sebastian Veron as the Argentinian reaches full fitness.
William Gallas is a doubt after aggravating an ankle injury on Tuesday, while Marcel Desailly has a bad back.
Arsenal: (from) Lehmann, Stack, Lauren, Cole, Campbell, Toure, Keown, Cygan, Edu, Gilberto Silva, Parlour, Pires, Wiltord, Ljungberg, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu, Aliadiere
Chelsea: (from) Cudicini; Johnson, Terry, Huth, Bridge, Makelele, Lampard, Veron, Duff, Geremi, Hasselbaink, Mutu, Crespo, Cole, Stanic, Gudjohnsen, Melchiot, Gronkjaer, Gallas, Ambrosio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG-MATCH FACTS
ARSENAL and Chelsea line-up at Highbury in a titanic top-of-the-table showdown, although by kick-off time both these clubs could be eclipsed at the top by Manchester United, should the champions at least draw their lunchtime fixture at Leeds.
The Gunners, who did not lose in four league and cup clashes with Chelsea last season, are seeking a third successive win in this corresponding fixture and sixth win in seven home top flight games with the Blues. They are also aiming to extend an unbeaten home and away run in all competitions with their London rivals to 14 matches.
Both these clubs are defending eight-match undefeated sequences in the Premiership - indeed they are the only clubs still to lose in the top league. Both are chasing a seventh victory of the campaign. In addition Arsenal need to score one goal to total 700 in the Premier League.
CHELSEA overtook Arsenal at the top on goal difference with Tuesday's anaemic goalless stalemate at Birmingham - the first time they had dropped points on the road. It was also the first time Claudio Ranieri's team had failed to score in the Premiership this term. It took their points total to 20 - their highest ever tally after the first eight games of a Premier League season.
But the record of the west Londoners against Arsenal is not good. They have never recorded a Premiership win at Highbury and have gone 15 League games home and away since a victory. Their last win was registered against a weakened Gunners line-up in the fourth round of the Worthington Cup. Chelsea won 5-0 at Highbury on 11 November 1998. The Blues have achieved three Premiership victories over the Gunners at Stamford Bridge, the most recent being 1-0 on 30 September 1995. Chelsea have not won in 13 visits across the capital. Indeed the only time they have secured three points at Highbury in 20 attempts spanning 26 years was 1-0 on 17 March 1990.
Ranieri, who celebrates his 52nd birthday on Monday, has seen his 'much-tinkered' side score more goals than any other in the top League (6), head the current form table (four wins and two draws in the last six - 14 points from 18) and boast the best away record in the league.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
ARSENAL
2nd 20 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: TOP
Lowest could fall: 3rd
One of three clubs to have recorded six Premiership wins this season. The others are Chelsea and Manchester United.
Unbeaten in ten Premiership matches (six wins, two draws).
Won eight and drawn two in the top division since losing 2-3 at home to Leeds on 4 May.
One of two clubs to hold the longest winning sequence in the top league (four matches). The other club is Chelsea.
One of two clubs to hold the longest undefeated sequence in the highest division (eight matches). The other is Chelsea.
Used just 17 players in Premiership games this term. Only Manchester City have employed so few.
CHELSEA
TOP 20 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: TOP
Lowest could fall: 3rd
One of three clubs to have recorded six Premiership wins this season. The others are Arsenal and Manchester United.
Unbeaten in the Premiership (six wins, two draws).
Won seven and drawn two in the Premiership since losing 1-0 at relegated West Ham on 3 May.
Won five and drawn one Premiership games on their travels since that defeat at Upton Park.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL CAREER MILESTONES
ARSENAL
Sylvain WILTORD is a double strike away from scoring 50 goals for Arsenal.
CHELSEA
Eidur GUDJOHNSEN is a brace away from clocking 50 goals for Chelsea.
If on the field at kick-off, Mario MELCHIOT will be making his 100th league start for the Blues.
If he plays, Emmanuel PETIT will be facing his former club.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Arsenal 3-2 Chelsea
1 January 2003 - Ref: Uriah Rennie
Arsenal scorers: Desailly 9 og, van Bronckhorst 81, Henry 82
Chelsea scorers: Stanic 85, Petit 86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Arsenal 55 wins, Chelsea 37, Draws 40
Prem: Arsenal 12 wins, Chelsea 3, Draws 7
HEAD TO HEAD at Arsenal
League: Arsenal 33 wins, Chelsea 16, Draws 17
Prem: Arsenal 8 wins, Chelsea 0, Draws 3
