Sunday’s match between Arsenal and Chelsea could prove very significant in what is increasingly becoming a clearer Premier League title race.
The Blues have a perfect record against fellow league rivals this season, but the Emirates will be the first time that Carlo Ancelotti's side have had to travel away from home to face one of them.
Having returned in midweek from a European trip, the Italian manager might also be slightly worried about a potential hangover effect.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been beaten in close-fought games against both Manchester United and City this season, and so have something to prove against top-class opposition.
Arsene Wenger has more injury worries than his opposite number, especially considering the absence of top scorer Robin van Persie, but with an extra day’s rest after their comfortable Champions League win over Standard Liege the Frenchman will believe his side are capable of grabbing an important win.
With all that in mind, here are a few of the key battles that could decide the outcome of the game.
Nicolas Anelka v Manuel Almunia
If the game proves to be as close as it looks on paper, then the battle between Arsenal’s goalkeeper and Chelsea’s enigmatic striker could well prove decisive.
Almunia has come in for some criticism this season, having conceded 10 goals in just the seven league games he has played in so far. Considering he has only made 12 saves in those games, it is a poor defensive ratio.
Perhaps such statistics are down to bad luck, or perhaps the Spaniard doesn’t have the concentration to make a telling contribution when called upon after many minutes of inaction.
If that is the case, then Anelka will expect to take advantage. The Frenchman has scored the solitary goal in 1-0 wins in four games already this season (although admittedly, they have all come in the Champions League and World Cup qualifiers) and has been on the winning side every time he has got on the scoresheet.
Coming off another decisive intervention in midweek against FC Porto, Anelka is in perfect position to provide another crucial touch if Almunia's attention slips, even for a second.
Didier Drogba v Thomas Vermaelen
Much was made of Thomas Vermaelen’s height upon his arrival at the Emirates. At 5’11”, many commented that the Belgian would not be the imposing physical presence Wenger’s side desperately needed at the back.
However, in his early games for the Gunners ‘the Verminator’ has proven himself to be more than capable of handling the hustle and bustle of the Premier League. Uncomprising in the air and on the floor, Vermaelen has added steel to Arsenal’s backline.
On Sunday, however, Vermaelen will face his biggest test yet.
Didier Drogba is in the form of his life, and has embarrassed bigger and more powerful defenders than Vermaelen this season. If the former Ajax centre-back is to become one of the world’s best — not to mention if Arsenal are to win at the weekend — then he will have to prove himself up to Drogba’s challenge.
It won’t be all one-way traffic, however. Vermaelen has been a welcome attacking influence for his side, scoring five goals in all competitions so far. As Arsenal’s main threat from corners, Drogba will likely be tasked with keeping the defender under wraps.
It is a task the Ivorian will relish, but if Vermaelen can somehow get the upper hand in both battles with the big Ivorian it might well provide the foundation on which Arsenal can win the game.
Michael Essien v Cesc Fabregas
Arguably two of the finest midfielders in world football will go head-to-head on Sunday, and who comes out on top could decide where the points go at the final whistle.
Fabregas is the heart and soul of Arsenal’s team, and at the Emirates he always looks to dictate the tempo of the game. But Michael Essien is equally important to the Chelsea engine, and will set out to shackle Fabregas so he can put the Blues on a sound footing to go on and dominate the game.
Both players are in fantastic form, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in their individual battle. Essien will have to reign in his attacking instincts, otherwise Fabregas might be able to slip beyond him and has the ability to pick Chelsea’s defence apart.
But Fabregas cannot afford to let himself get silenced by Essien, whose imposing physical presence has already scared off many central midfielders this season.
Even if he doesn’t have his usual impact on the game, Fabregas will have to keep trying to occupy the Ghanaian, at least giving his team-mates the room to make a difference.
The Chelsea midfield v Alexandre Song
The Cameroonian international has developed into an accomplished defensive midfielder after a slow start to life at Arsenal, and will be asked to fulfil an important role for his team on Sunday.
Much of Chelsea's dominance in games come from their diamond midfield, which gradually strangles opposition attacks and has the passing range and distribution to unlock avenues for the Blues' strikers to exploit.
But, as Manchester United showed three weeks ago, it is an operation that can be shut down. By flooding the centre of the pitch and constantly closing down players with the ball, Chelsea can come unstuck.
Song, assisted by the other members of Arsenal's midfield, will have to be disciplined in their defensive duties, and not get carried away by their natural instinct to push forward, despite being at home.
If they can then also follow United's blueprint, they might go some way to nullifying the Blues' main threat.
Branislav Ivanovic v Andrei Arshavin
Ivanovic isn’t a shoo-in to start at right-back on Sunday, but up against the guile and trickery of the Russian, Ancelotti might well prefer the Serbian’s defensive solidity over Juliano Belletti’s slightly more attacking charms.
If Ivanovic does get the nod, he will face a massive responsibility. With Robin van Persie out injured, a lot of Arsenal’s attacking threat will fall on Arshavin’s shoulders, and as the former Zenit St. Petersburg forward has shown in past games against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, he is more than capable of making a telling contribution given half the chance.
Ivanovic will be supported in his task by Ricardo Carvalho, whose anticipation and awareness will come in handy whenever Arshavin roams infield from his usual left-wing position.
Fabregas and Arshavin are likely to be Arsenal’s two biggest attacking outlets — if Essien and Ivanovic can do a solid job in containing them it will prove very difficult for the home side to win the game.
Carlo Ancelotti v Arsene Wenger
With a number of first-team players out injured, most notably Van Persie, Wenger might have to alter his preferred 4-3-3 formation to give his side the best chance of victory.
Ancelotti, on the other hand, has a settled formation but still has to make decisions about the personnel that form it. As mentioned above, right-back could prove an important decision, as will the player he opts for at the head of the diamond — especially with neither Joe Cole or Deco in top form.
On Wednesday the Italian revealed that Frank Lampard might well be fit enough to start the game on Sunday — but with Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda having put in some solid performances in his absence would bringing the Englishman back so soon really be the best move for the team?
As is often the case, the decisions the two managers make before and during the game could go a long way to deciding its outcome.
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