Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Eden Hazard would cost Real Madrid "£100m plus one of their three best players", Jose Mourinho has stated, but the Chelsea boss does not feel his former club are trying to unsettle the Belgian.
Hazard is expected to win the PFA Player of the Year award tonight, and his sensational recent form has led Real legend Zinedine Zidane to describe the 24-year-old as one of the three best players in the world.
Zidane is working as a coach with the Spanish club’s B team, but is seen as a key figure for the future, and such words generally indicate the beginning of a PR drive to smooth a planned purchase of a player.
Arsenal v Chelsea combined XIShow 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
Mourinho denied that was the case, due to his own good relationship with Bernabeu president Florentino Perez from managing Real between 2010 and 2013, but still laid out a high asking price for Hazard.
When a figure of £100 million was put to the Portuguese, he responded “plus one of their three best players”, pointing to the relative young age of the Belgian as greatly increasing his value.
Hazard is worth “£100m each leg, because he’s very young - £100m each leg”, Mourinho said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies