There will be no love lost when Chelsea play host to arch rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and the bookmakers make them odds-on favourites to beat Arsene Wenger’s men.
The Blues are 1.91 shots with
bet365 to secure all three points, despite the fact that they have not been at their best of late.
They have won just one of their last 7 Premier League home games, and face a side who have lost just three of their last 19 league away matches (W9, D7, L3) and are unbeaten in the last five (W2, D3).
The Gunners have also won away at Stamford Bridge more often than any other Premier League side (seven times) and scored more goals (27).
However there is little doubt that Chelsea are the better side of the pair and have the talent at their disposal to take all three points in this if Rafa Benitez can inspire them to play to the best of their ability.
One player who has settled instantly into the side and is capable of causing the Arsenal defence all sorts of problems in Demba Ba.
He scored two goals in his final match for Newcastle against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on December 29, and looks worth a wager at 4.75 with
bet365 in the first goalscorer market.
He can also be backed at 2 with
Boylesports in the anytime scorer market and that looks decent value for a player in red-hot form who will surely to so if Chelsea are to triumph.
Over 2.5 looks well worth considering at odds of 1.67 with
Betfred, and I am going to take Chelsea to triumph 2-1 in what promises to be a real hard fought affair.
That outcome is priced up at 8.5 with
bet365.