adminLONDON. — Arsenal great Robert Pires believes the English Premier League soccer title race will be over if his former club lose to runaway leaders Chelsea today. The match kicks-off at 2:30pm. Arsene Wenger’s side went down to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Watford on Tuesday, meaning Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool left Antonio Conte’s men nine points clear at the summit.
Chelsea have been in formidable form since Conte switched to a 3-4-2-1 system on the back of a chastening 3-0 loss at Emirates Stadium in September.
And Pires acknowledges the Gunners have little margin for error with 15 top-fight games remaining this term. “It will be very difficult after the last game that we lost against Watford. It was terrible,” the ex-Gunners star told reporters. We have another chance on Saturday. For me this is a big final for the Premier League. If Chelsea beat Arsenal I think the Premier League is done.
“Chelsea play very well, they are a very good team, very compact. They have the Italian philosophy, they play together. “Chelsea are maybe stronger but we need to believe in this opportunity. I think this is the last opportunity.”
Pires, who won two English Premier League titles during his time at Arsenal and was part of the “Invincibles” squad of 2003/04, believes Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be crucial to keeping the title race alive.
“I think this is the last chance for Arsenal and it is a final for the Premier League. If Chelsea beat Arsenal, I think the Premier League is totally finished,” Pires told Sky Sports News.
“Chelsea have played well for four months but if Arsenal beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, anything is possible. “Arsenal will be more concentrated and more focused and when I see (Alexis) Sanchez and (Mesut) Ozil, they can do something at Stamford Bridge.”
Arsenal completely outclassed Chelsea in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium in September, picking up a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Following that defeat, Conte changed Chelsea’s formation to a 3-5-2 system and his side have lost just one of their subsequent 17 league games, picking up 15 victories.
For Pires, the battle between joint-Premier League top scorer Diego Costa and Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny is the key match-up today. “Laurent Koscielny is a good defender, maybe one of the best defenders in the Premier League,” added Pires.
“He’s very strong, he’s very fast and everybody knows Diego Costa loves to fight, he has scored a lot of goals. So, maybe this is the key for the game.” Pires’ compatriot and former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly believes the Blues possess a more robust playing unit and predicts this could be the difference.
“Arsenal is having a problem because they have possession of the ball all the time but they don’t make the difference,” he said.
“When you are facing Chelsea you are have a problem because Chelsea has this capacity to really control the game, handle the pressure the opponent will put on them and have a great transition from defence to make the difference up front with Diego Costa. Arsenal need a (Nemanja) Matic or N’Golo Kante. You can see that the protection of their defensive block is not enough.
“You have the ability to play, the ability to use the ball but the defensive protection is not at the level you would expect because all the players have pretensions on playing.”
Desailly added: “If you lose against Watford it is difficult to get the state of mind for winning to straight away compete against Chelsea.
“For Chelsea it is not crucial, you prepare for the game normally. Yes, it’s an important game, a derby but it is not something crucial for Chelsea, winning and losing. The important thing is to have consistency throughout the rest of the season. Then you are sure to win the league in that case.”
Another Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said he does not rate Arsenal’s hopes in the Premier League title race. Hasselbaink doubts Arsenal could overtake Chelsea before the end of the season even if they leave Stamford Bridge with all three points.
But the former Chelsea striker is confident Antonio Conte will guide the Blues to a home win against their London rivals.
“I think it’s already very difficult for Arsenal, losing or not,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports about the Gunners’ title chances.
“They still have to play Liverpool plus the two Manchester teams. Even if they win it’s going to still be difficult. If they lose it’s 100 per cent finished.
“The beauty is Arsenal have to win to give themselves a chance and that is actually great for Chelsea because Chelsea are a different animal when the opposition is open.
“Chelsea are so organised, very comfortable without the ball and are going to have to be because Arsenal are fluent and can keep it for long spells. I can only see a Chelsea win, but that’s me. That’s not about being arrogant or overconfident, they still have to do the job.”
And Martin Keown reckons Ozil needs to up his game if Arsenal are to test Chelsea today. The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge today for a crucial clash.
Arsenal come into the game on the back of a frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to Watford on Tuesday. And Gunners legend is backing Arsenal to upset Premier League leaders Chelsea if Ozil shines.
“Mesut Ozil will be key to this game,” Keown said. — Sky Sports.
Online Reporter