The final top-flight game before Christmas pits the capital's highest-placed clubs against each other. So Sunderland summoned their age-old cup hex over the Blues and everyone at Chelsea has midweek diary dates free in January as a result. Most sympathy lies with those fans arriving back in London at 4.30am afterwards. On Monday the players will be aiming to be more efficient in every department at the Emirates to replicate the fine result and performance that dumped Arsenal out a round earlier.

It has not exactly been a great few weeks for the Premier League leaders, who have taken one point from the last possible six in the Barclays Premier League, shipped half a dozen against Manchester City, and finished second in their Champions League group, eventually being paired with the might of defending champions Bayern Munich.

Chelsea are unbeaten in our last three visits to the Emirates, one short of the sequence between 2004 and 2007. From 1959 to 1965 we managed to avoid defeat at Arsenal seven times in succession. The Gunners are looking to avoid three successive defeats for the first time since April 2010 when they lost to Barcelona, Tottenham and Wigan.

The north Londoners' recent travails mean questions are re-emerging about their aptitude against the better sides and the viability of their relatively shallow squad: from the ecstasy of looking like ending the eight-year drought, to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Gunners working overtime.

Arsene Wenger complained his side were fatigued after the 3-6 beating at Manchester City, but his players will be fresher than some of Chelsea's as a result of our comfortable 2-0 Capital One Cup win at Emirates a few weeks back - Arsenal have had a free week to rest and prepare.

Following their draw with Everton a fortnight ago Arsenal have dropped more points on home soil than the Blues. The Gunners have the worst home record of the top four sides, with fewest victories and lowest goal difference.

This match also sees the personal battle between Mourinho and Wenger rejoined; after nine meetings the Alsatian has yet to sink his teeth into the Special One.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com