Can Chelsea maintain their excellent form against the Gunners?

Chelsea have a great record against Arsenal and look worthy odds-on favourites to maintain their unbeaten home record in this weekend’s London Derby.

 

The Blues have lost just three of their last 19 games in all competitions against the Gunners, and the visitors have found themselves on the end of a 2-0 beating on their last two visits to the Bridge.

 

The only bad news is that Andre Villas Boas’s side will be without the suspended Didier Drogba.

 

He has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances against Arsenal in all competitions, and the visitor’s record against Chelsea with him playing is W1 D3 L10, but in his absence the Gunners have won two, drawn one and lost none.

 

However is absence means Fernando Torres could return to the starting XI now that he has completed a three-game ban for a red card against Swansea.

 

Torres is a 5 shot with Boylesports to net the opener, and he is the type of player that the Arsenal defence will find very tough to deal with.

 

He will also be eager to make an immediate impact on his return to action if given a start, so at those odds makes plenty of appeal in the first goal scorer market.

 

Given that Chelsea have lost just 3 of their last 19 games against Arsene Wenger’s side in the last 19 meetings the 1.67 on offer with Boylesports and Paddy Power about a home win certainly looks a shade too big – especially given Arsenal’s away record.

 

They have won none of their last eight Premier League away matches, and although they have won their last three games at home against Bolton, Sunderland and Stoke those sides are hardly the most taxing of opposition.

 

This game will be a totally different kettle of fish, and providing Chelsea don’t succumb to the indiscipline that saw them pick up two red cards and another seven bookings at Loftus Road they will surely emerge victorious.

 

Another 2-0 victory could be on the cards, and at 8.5 with Paddy Power that score line looks worth a punt, as does a saver on 2-1 at 8 with bet365, Boylesports and Victor Chandler.