The fight to decide the King of London will take place at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Arsenal and Chelsea will go head to head in one of the most anticipated clashes this Sunday. Both sides will be confident after collecting impressive wins in mid-week. War of words was already ignited by the Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho as he refused to apologize over the "Specialist in failure" taunt, while Arsene Wenger who has a history of remaining cool before the big games commented on the former Gunner Cesc Fabregas. As a result, the importance of this match has gone up a notch or two.
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Arsenal might taste their own medicine as Chelsea aims to replicate the Invincible Slogan on themselves which is still Arsenal territory.
Since starting their careers in English football, both managers have come from extremely different backgrounds. Since Mourinho was a European Champion when he visited Chelsea, Arsene Wenger was in Japan a year before taking the job at Arsenal. So keeping alone the trophies talk aside, Mourinho has a solid background to offer when he held reigns in Premier League.
The recent history which stretches to the last time Arsenal won the League, Arsene Wenger has a history to forget against the top teams in the Premier League. The last season’s thrashing at Anfield, a 6-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge catalysed by the referee Andre Marriner or 8-2 humiliation at the Old Trafford, big matches have never seemed to stun the French boss.
Arsene Wenger has never won against a Jose Mourinho side, with 6 defeats and 5 draws in 11 games.
Although Arsenal have a boasted squad this season, the high flying Gunners were in better situation last season when the top 4 danger caused erosion at the Emirates based club. Out of 18 available points against the top 4 sides, Arsenal managed to get just 5 with a win and 2 draws in 6 games. As Arsenal only conceded 41 goals last season, 17 of them came in the fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea making it one third to the goals they conceded whole last season.
Going back to the past in the 2012-13 season when Arsenal managed only 2 points of the possible 18 against the then top 4 sides. So talking about the graphical approach, Arsenal should improve this season.
On the other hand, Jose Mourinho loves playing against big sides. Out of available 18 points, Chelsea clinched whopping 16 points with 5 wins and a draw last season. Mourinho’s men scored 6 past Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
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Mourinho’s Record against Man City, Man Utd, LFC and Arsenal.
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Matches Played
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32
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Matches Lost
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3
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So if Arsenal have to defeat Chelsea, they must have to defy the odds. It will be really tough challenge for the Gunners to overcome the mighty Blues who are at top of Premier League table. And with an in-form Diego Costa and the former Gunner Cesc Fabregas in full swing in blue colours, 90 minutes could become eternity for Arsenal if they failed to capitalize once again in a big fixture.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
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