Chelsea have defeated Arsenal home and away this season. Not only did they beat them, but they did so convincingly on both occasions. In the aftermath of each game, Arsenal’s title challenge was written off as a bridge too far.
However, the Gunners now find themselves just one point behind Chelsea and two points behind current leaders Manchester United meaning that it is very much a three horse race for the title. Something which Chelsea skipper John Terry can’t quite believe.
Terry admits that after the victory at the Emirates in November, he personally “wrote them off” in terms of a title challenge. Since then though, they have “come from nowhere again” to make sure that the top of the Premier League remains extremely hard to predict in the coming weeks.
Terry wasn’t alone in writing off Arsenal either. Most Chelsea fans, if they are being honest, will admit that after Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge last month they didn’t really see Arsenal as a threat.
However, it is clear how the Gunners have got themselves back into it. Since that game Arsenal have won six in a row, while Chelsea have lost to Everton and Manchester City and drawn with Everton. Sadly, The Blues only have themselves to blame.
This is something Terry is aware and he says that “ourselves and United have slipped up when we shouldn’t have done”. He went on to reveal that Chelsea’s inconsistent form has been extremely frustrating for everybody involved.
As for the mentality Chelsea should have in the remaining games, Terry says that the title race is going to go “right to the wire” meaning the team need to “focus on one game at a time”. Every match is a cup final as they say.
One advantage, if you can call it that, that Chelsea have is that the Premier League is their main focus. Manchester United and Arsenal have Champions League games to worry about, whereas Chelsea just have their FA Cup campaign to compete in as well as the league. Chelsea’s FA Cup odds make them favourites to win the tournament, but even so there are a maximum of two games remaining in the competition.
Furthermore, the FA Cup ties are played instead of Premier League matches, rather in the middle of two games like the Champions League encounters. This may hand Chelsea a small advantage, something that could prove crucial in such a closely fought contest at the top of the Premier League.
From a personal point of view Terry will be looking to finish the season in fine form and take that to South Africa.
England’s World Cup odds make them third favourites for the competition but they will need the likes of Terry to be at the top of their game if they are to win the tournament.
Blue is the colour
