Despite the 10 point gap at the top of the Premier League table many pundits have been trying to paint this Sunday’s clash with Arsenal as some kind of title showdown. Perhaps this was before Chelsea FC’s decisive victory over Manchester United but the hype is still very much present for Sunday’s match.
The Gunners are riding high on a nine game win streak in all competitions including the Champions League and FA Cup. Their last loss came against Monaco in the first leg of their round of 16 tie which saw them knocked out of the competition. By all indications, they appear to have turned a corner in the Premier League and have qualified for the FA Cup final against Aston Villa. Arsenal is of course favored in that final and winning it would see them win their second FA Cup in two years.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger spoke to the media after his side’s FA cup semi final win against Reading and he was asked if his team has the mentality of champions. Wenger deflected the question and said, as quoted by Eurosport, “Let’s finish the season well. We have six games, a big game next weekend. I believe we have the spirit, which is encouraged by the results, so that is what we have to produce until the end.”
Chelsea have been a bogey club for Arsenal in recent years and even more so since the return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge. Mourinho has never lost a match against Arsene Wenger and in the past four Premier league showdowns between the two clubs, Arsenal has yet to score a goal. The Blues also handed Arsenal one of their most embarrassing losses last season in a 6-0 thrashing in Wenger’s 1,000th match in charge of the club.
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This time of year usually coincides with an Arsenal resurgence. They start the season brightly, struggle during the winter period, and then explode in the spring to qualify for the Champions League the following season. This spring time surge always gives Gunners fans hope that they will challenge for the Premier League title next season.
It is the same old story this season however this time around Arsenal looks poised to finish second or third rather than fourth. They are one point ahead of third-place Manchester United with a game in hand and have some favorable fixtures after playing Chelsea on Sunday.
However the measuring stick of a potential champion is usually how they perform against their fellow title contenders. Arsenal may have been successful in recent weeks beating up on teams like West Ham, Everton, and Queens Park Rangers but the true test comes on Sunday where, as their manager said, they have to prove something against Chelsea FC.
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