Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Laurent Koscielny is desperate to end Arsene Wenger’s hoodoo against Jose Mourinho

Koscielny believes the Gunner need to beat Chelsea for next season's title challenge hopes

Saturday 25 April 2015 21:06 BST

(Getty Images)

Laurent Koscielny believes Arsenal beating Chelsea at the Emirates is essential to next season’s title race, and is determined for Arsene Wenger to finally claim victory against Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese is unbeaten in his 12 encounters with the Arsenal boss, a stat that has perpetuated the feeling this is a bigger game for the home side. While Chelsea will likely win the Premier League regardless, Wenger’s team are on a fine winning run, and will probably never have a better opportunity to end the drought against Mourinho.

Arsenal defender Koscielny said: “It’s always important to win against the best team in the Premier League and maybe we cannot win the title this season but, for next season, it’s always important as a reminder that we could win against Chelsea, [Manchester] City and Liverpool. It’s psychological, [that] you can win these games, so maybe it’s not for this season but next season we start quickly, and it will be very important to be ready.”

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Show all 12

1/12Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

David Ospina (Arsenal)

Yes, it comes as a shock, but the Colombian makes the cut ahead of Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois on recent form – as this team is picked – given his impressive spell in the Arsenal goal. Having ousted Wojciech Szczesny from the sticks, Ospina has cemented his role so much that Szczesny looks set to be sold in the summer, and the 26-year-old has conceded just three goals since the start of March, compared to Courtois’s six.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

The utility defender is one of the best right-backs around in the Premier League, and his worth to the team has been shown over the years since his arrival in 2008. Ivanovic is a prime example of a big time, having shown his best form in matches against their top four rivals as well as on the European stage. When these teams met at Stamford Bridge, he was able to keep Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla quiet as the two swapped flanks.

GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

John Terry (Chelsea)

He’d probably be the captain too. Terry’s worth to the Blues is unquestionable, and his performances this season show why the club are happy to prolong his career-long spell at Stamford Bridge. He commands the back-line and remains a physical threat at attacking set-pieces, and seems to relish the London derby when he comes up against the Gunners.

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

Without doubt Arsenal’s most consistent defender, although that doesn’t say a lot given the rest of the options available. That doesn’t do Koscielny justice though, as the Gunners are a much stronger team with the Frenchman in the side as his injury absences in the past have shown. Has an eye for a goal – much like Terry – and his pace at the back remains his strongest trait.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

He may be a natural right-back solving a problem on the left, but it’s some feat to keep out a Champions League finalist and La Liga winner in Filipe Luis. Neither Nacho Monreal or Kieran Gibbs have shown the form to put themselves in consideration, and with Azpilicueta’s perceived weakness coming in the air, he is unlikely to be tested against an Arsenal side notorious for playing on-the-ground technical football.

GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)

The Serbian defensive midfielder is probably leading the way in the holding role, although Frances Coquelin as emerged from the Arsenal youth ranks to make the position his own at the Emirates. It’s quite likely that Matic will look to latch on to Mesut Özil, having nullified the playmaker’s threat in the reverse fixture last October that also saw Özil injured for over three months.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)

The former Arsenal captain returns to the Emirates for the first time since leaving the club in 2011, and after a mixed reception from the Gunners support last October, the reunion may well be one to forget. However, despite his performances of late not quite matching up to his early season form, he still has the talent and ability to secure three points single-handedly, and his understanding with Eden Hazard – as demonstrated in the 1-0 victory over QPR – gives the Blues a threat that the Gunners currently lack.

GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

The Chilean has more than justified his expensive transfer last summer having established himself as a firm favourite among the red half of North London. Sanchez has the ability and awareness to play across either flank as well as a prolific goal-threat through the middle, and his ability to come up with goals when the side isn’t at its best – the recent FA Cup semi-final victory over Reading immediately springs to mind – gives Arsenal something they’ve lacked in recent years.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)

The World Cup winner can be accused of taking time to settle at Arsenal, but he appears to be growing in confidence with each games he comes through. He may not get the plaudits due to his lack of goals, but the chances he’s creating for those around him are of the highest quality, and he’s a big reason why Arsenal head into this weekend’s game off the back of a nine game winning streak.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Surely he’ll win the Player of the Year award? Hazard has backed up his promise to challenge for the crown of being named the best player on the planet with a simply sublime season, and he can lay claim to winning his side 11 points single-handedly this term – more than their current 10-point gap at the top. He run Arsenal ragged at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, and it remains clear that Arsene Wenger is yet to work out how to stop the Belgian maestro, who can realistically claim to be among the top three players on the planet.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)

Had Diego Costa been fit and at his ferocious best, Giroud would probably be sitting among the substitutes, but is yet to overcome his troublesome hamstring injury and while he could return against the Gunners, it’s the Frenchman’s 10 goals in his last 10 starts that locks down his position in our side. However, it’s time for Giroud to step up, as he is yet to register his first goal against Chelsea since arriving at Arsenal in 2012.

Getty Images

Arsenal v Chelsea combined XI

Manager - Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)

The clash between the two managers in October dominated the headlines, more so than the Blues' 2-0 victory. But the simple fact is that Arsene Wenger is yet to beat Jose Mourinho, which makes this decision an easy one. Until The Professor earns his first win against The Special One, it's a one-horse race.

GETTY IMAGES

Koscielny also feels Arsenal are ready to beat Chelsea.

“It’s true that Jose Mourinho likes the psychological game but it works just for a time, because it is on the pitch where things happen. It has been complicated for the boss. I hope just for once he will win against Mourinho.

“I think if we finish second in the Premier League and win the FA Cup it will be a good season because at the start of the season we were seventh, sixth and always there was talk that Arsenal are finished this year.”

Wenger confirmed one of the reasons Arsenal did not sign Cesc Fabregas in the summer was because they had Mesut Ozil and similar attacking midfielders.

“Exactly,” Wenger said. “We had a congestion. When you have to pay £35-40m in a position where you have players already, you have to question where is the logic.”

Arsène Wenger (left) and Jose Mourinho have to be separated by the fourth official, Jon Moss, during last October’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge (GETTY IMAGES)

As regards one of Chelsea’s main attackers, Eden Hazard is expected to win the PFA Player of the Year award tonight, but Mourinho believes he deserves even more credit for his attitude and bravery in the face of challenges that could be “hospital situations” .

“He’s a fantastic boy, a golden boy. He doesn’t cheat. He doesn’t dive. Nothing. So I think, even for opponents, he’s a fantastic kid. We had a couple of situations which could be hospital situations but he’s getting strong.”

Arsenal v Chelsea is live on Sky Sports 1 today, kick-off 4pm

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies