Arsenal hope to make the most of Stamford Bridge hostilities

 
James Olley18 January 2013

Home advantage often provides a considerable edge in big matches but recent events suggest such bias will be inverted when Chelsea face Arsenal on Sunday.

There are several reasons why the Blues have underperformed at Stamford Bridge since Rafael Benitez took temporary charge — not least their vulnerability to teams counter-attacking at pace — but the antipathy among supporters towards Roberto di Matteo’s successor is of equal relevance.

Free of the toxic environment that threatens to surface at the first sign of adversity, Chelsea’s performances on the road have been something close to exemplary. Domestically, they have won six out of seven matches on their travels compared to just one from six since at home after Di Matteo was ousted in November.

Demba Ba’s arrival provides Benitez with a viable alternative to the enigma that is Fernando Torres, who received a personal reminder of the frustration flowing through many Chelsea supporters when he entered the fray as a late substitute in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Southampton.

The imminent return of John Terry from a knee injury could help galvanise the Blues and their supporters but only with a united front can they create the intimidating atmosphere that has unsettled the Gunners in the past.

Arsenal have won only twice in the League at Chelsea since 2004 but they have conceded only nine goals away from home this season, the joint-best record in the division.

Exactly half of Arsenal’s 34 points have been secured away from Emirates Stadium, where they too have struggled to handle the weight of expectation. Sometimes, surely, it can be suffocating for the home side? “The confidence of the crowd in the team plays a big part,” said Arsene Wenger. “But let’s not hope on any weakness of Chelsea. Let’s focus on our strength. You want to go there and be at your best. That’s all you can do.

“I feel sympathy for every manager until the day I play against him. Then the sympathy goes and comes back after the game. We are all in the same position. We know we are in a fragile job and that the confidence is very important. It’s a job where you have to take care of your own team.”

Both sides are a major threat on the counter-attack, in Arsenal’s case especially so if Theo Walcott starts as a central striker, and Chelsea demonstrated their defensive vulnerability to allow Southampton to earn parity.

The Gunners also look suspect at the back and attack is the best form of defence for two sides for whom Wenger insists the rivalry still remains fierce despite the only realistic title challengers residing in Manchester these days.

“I think it is always more intense when the two teams fight for the championship,” said Wenger. “At the moment the two teams don’t so for example for the media it is a bit less intense. For us, it is a massive game.

“I saw the final part of the Southampton game and they had a go. They played well. We will not change our style too much. We will try to attack and try to create chances.”

Key to finding the right balance will be Abou Diaby, who Wenger hopes is finally over his injury problems.

He added: “He is an important part of our team because he adds qualities that we need in the middle. He has power and long strides. He is the closest to Patrick Vieira in his style that we have seen for a long time.”

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