Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope to make it 13th time lucky
against Jose Mourinho, as he hopes that his team can delay Chelsea's
coronation as Premier League champions in Sunday's London derby.
Wenger
has never prevailed against Mourinho in 12 attempts and even if he
redresses that statistic at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, it is
unlikely to prevent Chelsea from claiming the title.
Having recorded an efficient 1-0 win over third-place Manchester
United last weekend, Chelsea are 10 points clear of Arsenal at the top
of the table with six games remaining.
Victory on Sunday would leave them needing three points from next
Wednesday's trip to Leicester City, currently embroiled in a relegation
battle, to claim a first league crown since 2010.
But while the championship seems destined for Stamford Bridge,
Arsenal have drawn encouragement from a run of nine consecutive wins,
including an FA Cup semi-final defeat of Reading that took the holders
into the final.
Sunday's derby will see Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas return to
the club where he previously spent eight years, including three as
captain, and Wenger hopes he will be spared a hostile reception.
"I want every player to be respected, and Cesc Fabregas when he comes
to the Emirates on Sunday to be respected like he deserves," said the
Frenchman, who clashed with Mourinho on the touchline in October's
reverse fixture.
Centre-back Per Mertesacker has a "50-50" chance of playing,
according to Wenger, after injuring his ankle in the 2-1 victory over
Reading at Wembley.
Midfielders Mikel Arteta and Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain are both back in training after injury lay-offs, but
neither is ready to return to first-team action.
Chelsea, meanwhile, hope to be able to call upon French striker Loic
Remy, who has missed their last two games due to a calf complaint.
Diego Costa is likely to remain sidelined with a hamstring problem, while veteran Didier Drogba has hurt his ankle.
Eden Hazard netted Chelsea's winner against United, his 18th goal of
the season, and is hotly tipped for honours in Sunday's Professional
Footballers' Association (PFA) awards.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday:Burnley v Leicester City, Crystal
Palace v Hull City, Manchester City v Aston Villa, Newcastle United v
Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers v West Ham United, Southampton v
Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City v Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion v
Liverpool.
Sunday:Arsenal v Chelsea, Everton v Manchester United.
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