Andy's Monday tips - Chelsea to be held
Nine times out of 10 I'd find myself tipping Chelsea to win this fixture irrespective of where it was being played because the Blues just seem to have the Indian sign over the Gunners. Whether that's because they're more powerful or simply because they have the greater belief because of what's happened in recent times, the truth is the head-to-head record between these two is pretty one-sided.
However, while they played significantly better against Spurs a couple of weeks ago and at times during that second half they looked like the Chelsea of old, but there's still something not quite right with this team at the moment.
The return of Frank Lampard will certainly help matters but they've conceded plenty in recent weeks, and I can't see them keeping a clean sheet against Arsenal on enemy territory.
Most of the Arsenal team picks itself these days but I have to say I've been surprised that Arsene Wenger hasn't managed to accommodate the fit-again Robin Van Persie in his starting XI. I can see that Wenger is comfortable with this 4-3-3 system and that he likes to play Marouane Chamakh almost as an old-fashioned target man because of the aerial threat he brings and the goals he's been getting.
But there's no reason why RVP can't play as one of the wider forwards. Ok, you're hardly going to drop Samir Nasri in the form he's in at the moment but Andrei Arshavin has been disappointing as often as he's been impressive and maybe a break would do the mercurial Russian some good. All in all, I think Arsenal would look a more balanced side with van Persie in the starting 11 but we'll have to wait and see what happens.
This is one of those games where you could make a very good case for any of the three possible outcomes and when that happens, the best option is to go with a draw, not least because it's the biggest price of the three.
Didier Drogba has gone a little off the boil in recent weeks and that's coincided with Chelsea's dip in form but his scoring record against Arsenal is superb and I'd rather be siding with him to score in this match than not to.
Recommended Bets:
Back the draw at [3.4]
Back 1-1 at [7.2]
Back Didier Drogba to score at anytime at [2.5] or better
Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.
Published: 27 Dec 2010
Leave a comment