Three battles that could decide this game

It’s 482 minutes and counting since the table-topping Gunners last scored a Premier League goal against London rivals Chelsea. With three points a must to maintain title momentum this weekend, can Arsenal break their duck in tomorrow night’s derby?

Our EPL analyst ADRIAN CLARKE (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) picks out three titanic tussles that could decide the outcome…

AARON RAMSEY v CESC FABREGAS

One or two deft brush strokes from Mesut Ozil’s genial left boot may decide this encounter, but Chelsea would be crazy to ignore the threat his Welsh midfield comrade also presents.

With four goals in 10 matches, and two in the last three, Aaron Ramsey is beginning to rediscover the dashing brilliance that marked him out as one of European football’s most dangerous box-to-box midfielders in 2013-14.

His energy should, in theory, give the Gunners an edge over a Blues engine room that has lumbered around hopelessly for much of a pitiful title defence.

A peek at this season’s “sprints” stats helps to provide a telling story. Ramsey (66.6 per match), Ozil (56.2) and Mathieu Flamini (52) have all been prepared to make so many more full-out sprints than their opposite numbers, with a below-par Nemanja Matic (43.6), Fabregas (36.4) and John Obi Mikel (33.7) seemingly far keener on strolling around in the middle of the park.

Chelsea will want the Gunners to play slow, possession football in front of them. It is down to the hosts to ensure that does not happen. Providing Ramsey keeps making forward runs into the box and testing their resolve, sooner or later his markers will give up the ghost and stop chasing after him. That is not to say Fabregas does not have a huge part to play, too. One of his long-range passes can alter the course of a match.

Last weekend, Everton found that out to their cost.

If Ramsey or Flamini do not get close enough to him, he will look to hurt his former club with pinpoint passes over the top.

NACHO MONREAL v WILLIAN

Interim boss Guus Hiddink instructed Chelsea to sit deep and play on the counter attack at Old Trafford last month, and if he uses the same strategy in north London, Willian, the Blues’ player of the season (by a mile), will pose serious menace on breakaways. It may have been a dreary old season for his club, but the 27-year-old has sparkled throughout.

A willing runner who is quick and tricky, the mind boggles where Chelsea would be sitting if not for his contributions. Lifting the mood with goals from distance, top-class set pieces and exciting dribbles, his reputation has been immensely enhanced.

Luckily for Arsene Wenger, the right-sided Brazilian will need to get the better of left-back Nacho Monreal tomorrow night — and not too many wide men can boast they have achieved that this term against the most improved defender in the Premier League.

Gone is the shy, hesitant and occasionally weak fullback who arrived in England from Malaga almost three years ago. Today, Monreal is a quick, sharp, and astute defensive talent who has not had a poor game all season. I swear that with every confident display, he gets faster and faster.

Monreal vs Willian excites me because it pits two of the division’s most consistent and in-form performers directly against one another. If the Chelsea man can skip into space behind him on breakaways, Chelsea’s prospects of springing a surprise result will skyrocket.

Should the Gunners star shackle him properly, and step forward to contribute for Arsenal in the final third, I fancy it to be the home team’s day.

OLIVIER GIROUD v JOHN TERRY

Battle-hardened from a career of highs and lows against the Gunners, Terry’s record against Arsenal is a phenomenal one. Since Arsenal moved to Emirates Stadium, the hosts have only found the net seven times in nine meetings.

The central defender was wonderful in this fixture last April. Making 14 clearances, Terry repelled everything the men in red could throw at him. He had Giroud tucked away in his back pocket.

This time could be different. The Blues captain has made more mistakes this term, and will lock horns with a much-improved Giroud. The French hitman’s all-round play has blossomed. If Arsenal can get into the right areas to supply accurate passes or crosses, Giroud’s sharp movement and expert finishing could prove the difference. He has never been this alive in front of goal.

It is another night where Terry will fire himself up to prove he is not too old, but if he creaks, Arsenal’s leading scorer is ready to hold the upper hand. I am backing Giroud to score his first Premier League goal against the Blues.

PREDICTION:

Recent history suggests this will be a low-scoring affair, and I do not expect Hiddink’s relegation-threatened champions to make life easy for Arsenal. They never do.

That said, the hosts have more confidence, energy and match winners this season, and have outperformed Chelsea since day one of the current campaign. As long as they reproduce the confident, fast-paced football that saw off United and City at the Emirates, without neglecting their defence, it is hard to bet against them.

SCORE: ARSENAL 1 CHELSEA 0

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many international publications and websites. Follow him at @adrianjclarke.

BIG MATCH PREDICTIONS

NORWICH CITY v LIVERPOOL

Centre-back Timm Klose and livewire forward Steven Naismith are shrewd acquisitions that should give Norwich, in the midst of a rotten run of form, a big lift ahead of Liverpool’s visit.

Both debutants will be especially dangerous from set pieces delivered by the excellent Robbie Brady, and you can bet that Alex Neil will urge his side to test Simon Mignolet’s fragile confidence. It’s a tough test for the Reds.

Prediction: 2-2

MANCHESTER UNITED v SOUTHAMPTON

When Ronald Koeman has his Saints firing, they are a difficult side to beat. Charlie Austin’s scoring instincts, the skill of Sadio Mane, Shane Long’s pace, the craft of Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse’s dead-ball deliveries all represent concerns for Manchester United ahead of kick off.

Morgan Schneiderlin’s midfield collision with ex-teammate Victor Wanyama will be well worth a watch, but to avoid a repeat of the 1-0 loss suffered at home in 2014-15, Louis van Gaal’s stuttering stars will need to up their game.

Prediction: 1-2

CRYSTAL PALACE v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Alan Pardew’s a terrific manager, but every now and then his teams have blown hot and cold in spectacular fashion. It’s as if they relax the moment people begin to praise them. Right now, the Eagles are freezing.

In contrast, Spurs are well balanced, free of injury concerns, and blessed with self-belief. It’s the perfect time to visit Selhurst Park.

Prediction: 0-3

WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER CITY

It would be very ‘Manchester City’ to slip up at Upton Park. This season, they seem to have made inconsistency an art form.

Slaven Bilic is a deep tactical thinker, so you can be sure he’s conjured up a strategy to keep Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva on a tight leash, but does he have enough firepower available to put Manuel Pellegrini’s side under sufficient strain? Without the injured Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll his hands are tied, but I still fancy them to score once.

Prediction: 1-1

TV TIMES

Tonight, 8.45pm

Norwich vs Liverpool (Singtel Ch102, Starhub Ch227)

Tonight, 10.55pm

Leicester vs Stoke (Ch103, Ch228)

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham (Ch104, Ch229)

Watford v Newcastle (Ch105, Ch230)

West Brom v Aston Villa (Ch106, Ch231)

Sunderland v Bournemouth (Ch107, Ch232)

Tonight, 11pm

Man Utd vs Southampton (Ch102, Ch227)

Tomorrow, 1.30am

West Ham vs Man City (Ch102, Ch227)

Tomorrow, 9.30pm

Everton vs Swansea (Ch102, Ch227)

Tomorrow, 11.55pm

Arsenal vs Chelsea (Ch102, Ch227)