Lee Dixon: Stamford Bridge frustration to hurt Chelsea once again

19Jan 2013

England - Premier League

These are not good times at the Bridge and Arsenal could well hold Chelsea to their second draw of the week, says Lee Dixon...

Arsenal are hardly flying at the moment but there can rarely have been a better time to play Chelsea than now.

The Blues have given us some eye-catching results lately - just not always for the right reasons. For every 4-0 at Stoke, 5-1 at Southampton and 8-0 at home to Villa, there is an inexplicable defeat or setback; Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with the Saints being the latest example.

Rafa Benitez is the reason for that, with fans steadfastly against the former Liverpool manager. Pep Guardiola's apparent snub of Roman Abramovich, when agreeing to manage Bayern Munich next year, increases the chances of Benitez staying on at Stamford Bridge but the fans just seem to become ever more entrenched in their opposition to Rafa.

Criticism rains down from the stands but it's like water off a duck's back for the Spaniard. The players don't seem to revel in the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge however, and that could well transmit to the players and it wouldn't surprise me if this London derby was heavy on the bookings.

Arsenal's situation pales in comparison to Chelsea's. The Emirates was not a fun place to be for the home faithful on Sunday afternoon, but they enjoyed Jack Wilshere's 86th minute winner against Swansea in Wednesday night's cup replay. The 21-year-old was in fine form against the Welsh outfit, playing further forward in Mikel Arteta's absence and he looked effective alongside Santi Carzola and Theo Walcott, with Oliver Giroud leading the line.

It still took the Gunners 86 minutes to break the Swansea defence and despite boasting all that attacking talent, my old club have struggled to score - especially away from home - and I don't think that will change on Sunday. For me all the ingredients add up to a tight, scrappy affair, probably ending in a point apiece.

That won't suit either club but I think we know which manager will be the happier when it's all over.

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