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LoginEPL: Arsenal vs Chelsea
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*Cech seeks Christmas cheer*
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is hoping to be Arsenal's 'Scrooge' this Christmas - by picking up three points at the Emirates this weekend.
The Czech Republic international returned to action in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League stalemate with Valencia at Stamford Bridge after a spell out with a calf injury.
Cech believes that in this notoriously chilly time of year the title race really starts to hot up.
"It is a time of year when there are so many difficult games in such a short space of time," he said.
"The first year I came to Chelsea I remember going into the Christmas period five points behind Arsenal - but then we got a good 2-2 draw at Highbury.
"By the time Christmas matches were completed, we were five points ahead of them."
Arsenal have been dealt significant blows recently - both on and off the field. Dropped points at Newcastle and Middlesbrough and injuries to key players have seen the Gunners suffer a pre-Christmas blip.
Losses
However, Cech believes his own side have been just as unfortunate - and have coped admirably.
"We have also had to cope without big players," said Cech.
"John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have all been missing for small spells. Now Drogba is out but we are still winning points.
"Arsenal have shown they are a good side, but I think we are catching them up. We are only three points behind now and unbeaten in 16 games".
Star midfielder Frank Lampard echoed the importance of Sunday's fixture - and senses that now is a good time to travel to the Emirates.
"It's a massive game for us on Sunday," he said.
"Arsenal have been fantastic this season, but obviously they've slipped up a bit in the last couple of days.
"Although that happens to everyone - it's a great opportunity for us to go there and close the gap on them a little bit more."
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Gunners in Lamps' sights
Frank Lampard insists Chelsea have enough firepower to inflict only Arsenal's second defeat at the Emirates on Sunday.
Lampard said: "It's a massive game for us. Arsenal have been fantastic this season, although they have obviously slipped up in a couple of Premier League games recently."
Chelsea lose injured Didier Drogba, who is in line to win the African Footballer of the Year award for the second year running, but Lampard added: "This is a great opportunity for us to go there and close the gap even more. We've been closing it steadily over the last month, but we'll need to be at our best.
"It's virtually impossible to go through the season unbeaten, so I don't put their result at Boro down to tiredness - it's just that teams always 'up' their game against the leaders and we'll have our own way of playing against them. I'm not worried about where goals will come from as we're capable of scoring from all over the park."
Chelsea have admitted an FA charge that their players failed to "conduct themselves in an orderly fashion" against Derby on November 24.
what is this kunt uttering nonsense abt? "virtually impossible to go through the season unbeaten?" where was he when arsenal had tt unbeaten run?
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*Big four set for Sunday showdown*
Robin van Persie believes champions Manchester United pose a bigger threat to Arsenal's hopes of regaining the Premier League title than Chelsea.
League leaders Arsenal host third-place Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday, while second play fourth with United meeting Liverpool at Anfield.
Van Persie said: "I just think our biggest rivals at the end of the season are United, because of the quality.
"That is why I think it will be a battle between Arsenal and them."
The Gunners are three points ahead of their London rivals and just one ahead of champions Manchester United.
And 24-year-old Van Persie believes Sir Alex Ferguson's side's strength will prove decisive come the end of the season.
"United have lots of quality players up there who can win games for the team," he said.
"Even when they are playing poorly, they have Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and lots of good strikers who can win games.
United will knock Arsenal off the top of the Premier League should they win at Anfield and remain there if the Londoners are held or beaten by Chelsea later on Sunday.
Red Devils striker Louis Saha rates last year's corresponding fixture with Liverpool, won by John O'Shea in injury time, as one of the highlights of his career and is confident a win at Anfield can strengthen United's title charge.
"Without doubt, it is the most intense atmosphere for a Manchester United player," he said.
"I have played there a few times now but the win we had there last season was amazing. That is one of the greatest feelings I have ever had as a footballer."
"My main memory of last season is that the win at Liverpool kick-started us towards the title. It proved we were strong enough.
"We are going there much earlier in the season this time and there is still a long road ahead. But it does give us a chance to show exactly how good we are."
Dutchman Van Persie, who has recently returned from a long-term knee injury, insists a win for Arsenal is vital if the Gunners are to remain in the hunt for the the title they last won in 2004.
"We need to win on Sunday. It's not about a draw or anything else. We need to win because we are just one point clear of them. That's why we need to win."
He added: "In games against teams like Middlesbrough, you can sort of collect bonus points. You need to win those games so you can, in a worse-case scenario, lose a game against Chelsea or Man United."
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*Gallas - Terry's a good leader*
William Gallas has praised the leadership qualities of John Terry ahead of Arsenal's Grand Slam Sunday showdown with Chelsea.
Terry was Gallas' captain at Stamford Bridge before the French defender crossed London to join Arsenal in August 2006.
He has been appointed Gunners skipper this season after Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona and has been revelling in the role.
Gallas admits he picked up some tips from Terry during his time at Chelsea and feels the England captain is a 'good leader'.
Examples
"John was a good leader," Gallas told reporters. "When I was there, all the time he put himself in front and that is very important for the team.
"He made a good job as well with the England team. What is good is that you have to have some examples to try to be a good captain. And before that I think John watched Marcel Desailly.
"I watched Marcel as well because he was our captain and tried to be the best, and to be a good captain you have to take something from all the others."
Honest
Outlining his own captain's qualities, Gallas added: "Sometimes to be captain you have to be honest. That is more important and you have to see when something is wrong and to speak with your team.
"At the moment we speak very well and when something is not good I speak with them.
"I just try to do my best on the pitch and outside of the pitch I speak with the young players.
"It is very important for them. They are still young, but they have some good quality and for that you sometimes have to speak with them to help them.
"I am the captain and I try to do my best, and I try to show them how they have to play sometimes, and sometimes being angry."
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*Fabregas may make Arsenal return*
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas trained on Friday and could be in line for a return against Chelsea.
Fabregas has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since 27 November but trained along with Robin van Persie, Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb.
Ricardo Carvalho (back) and Florent Malouda (knee) could be back for Chelsea if they pass fitness tests.
Didier Drogba (knee), Michael Ballack (ankle) and Michael Essien (suspended) are definitely unavailable.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gilberto, Diarra, Rosicky, van Persie, Adebayor, Lehmann, Senderos, Traore, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Eduardo.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Ben Haim, Terry, A Cole, J Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Malouda, Sidwell, Kalou, Pizarro, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Obi.
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