Ancelotti trusts plan to stifle Arsenal will deliver same result

But Wenger says his side just need to believe they can perform against top teams

(GETTY IMAGES)

When Carlo Ancelotti was asked if it had been difficult to focus on football over the past seven days at Chelsea following the revelations concerning his captain's bed-hopping antics, he arched his eyebrow yesterday and answered: "It was a normal week."

The Chelsea manager's reply was an attempt to insist the club's bid to win the Premier League will not be sidetracked by the ongoing soap opera. However, to some seasoned Chelsea observers he summed up exactly what they had been thinking. Ever since Roman Abramovich appeared from nowhere to buy the club in 2003, no side in the world seems to court controversy with such gay abandon as Chelsea. In many respects, this has been a normal week at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry has been sacked as England captain over a sex scandal; the club's lawyers have successfully overturned Fifa's transfer ban; oh, and they play Arsenal tomorrow in one of the most important fixtures of the season. Yes indeed, very much a normal week at Chelsea.

Terry did not train with his team-mates yesterday, with a recurrence of his back injury and an important – if brief – meeting with Fabio Capello to attend, but Ancelotti said the captain will play against Arsenal in a game that could potentially put Chelsea nine points clear of their London rivals. With so much at stake at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, Ancelotti is not about to risk messing it up with anything as frivolous as playing entertaining football.

Chelsea won 3-0 at The Emirates in November by stifling the Arsenal midfield and then hitting them with devastating counter-attacks. The tactics worked to perfection, and succeeded equally well in winding up Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager.

"In the last game against Arsenal, it was very good for us," Ancelotti said. "We played the right way and did a very good defence and counter-attack. That's the right way to play against Arsenal on Sunday".

"We are looking to repeat the same result. Also, Arsenal want to change the game, want to change their performance," he added.

"Tactically we did very well in that match. Arsenal have fantastic midfield players with strong quality – Fabregas, Arshavin and Nasri – but we didn't give them the possibility to play easily. It's all important to put pressure on them with our midfield, and not leave the space to play."

There is no love lost between Ancelotti and Wenger, with the Chelsea manager calling his Arsenal counterpart a "magician" for being able to predict Chelsea would drop points after their emphatic 3-0 over Arsenal. Time has shown Wenger was spot on as Chelsea have taken just 19 out of 30 points in the 10 Premier League games since the clubs last met. Tomorrow Wenger will have the opportunity to prove his other assessment was correct, in saying there is little to choose between the teams.

His theory is not backed up by the statistics however, as Arsenal have a terrible recent record against their close rivals. The Gunners have lost their last three meetings with Chelsea 2-1, 4-1 and 3-0, and they have lost 3-1 and 2-1 to Manchester United this season. Last weekend's heavy home defeat to the champions has left Arsenal staring at the prospect of another season of disappointment.

Wenger's belief in his team however remains as firm as ever. "I don't feel we've been overrun," he said yesterday. "We have put ourselves in a position where we are open to counter-attacks and we lack a bit of patience."

Arsenal's lack of physical presence against Chelsea was also noticeable the last time the team's met. After Chelsea's 3-0 win at the Emirates in November, Sky TV's anchorman Richard Keys summed up the match as "men against boys", an assessment that provoked an immediate and stinging response from Wenger who denied that his players had been outmuscled.

Analysis of the physical characteristics of the two starting teams in November shows a startling difference in the size and shape of the two sides. Chelsea edged it on height, the average Chelsea player being 6ft, compared to the Arsenal side's average height of 5ft 11in. However there is a remarkable disparity in the two team's weights. The average Arsenal player weighed in at 11st 9lb, while the average Chelsea player tipped the scales at 13st 2lb – a difference of a stone and a half per player. Not so much men against boys, more bulldogs versus whippets.

Wenger said yesterday his team did not lack muscle, rather the confidence to play their expressive football against the very best teams. He said: "I believe this team really wants to do well but because they have not won yet they make it harder in their heads than it actually is. And when we get close we play a little bit with the handbrake. They are mentally strong and dedicated. I see the team every day and wouldn't defend them if they did not have the right attitude. They have fantastic attitude. They want to win but they have to have that final part in the big games."

Chelsea under Ancelotti in contrast have been outstanding in the major games this season, winning all three Premier League games against the "Big Four" clubs without conceding a goal. However there were signs in the midweek draw at Hull City that the media attention on Terry is proving to be a distraction for the players. Wenger might just find this "normal week" ends up being a rather good time to play Chelsea.

Muscle men: Chelsea's edge

When the clubs met in November – and Arsenal were soundly beaten 3-0 – Chelsea's players weighed on average over a stone more than their opponents.

*Average height

Arsenal: 6ft 0in

Chelsea: 5ft 11in

*Average weight

Arsenal: 11st 9lb

Chelsea: 13st 2lb