After Tuesday's Champions League exit against Man United, the Gunners take on the other side defeated in the Semi-Final, Chelsea, on Sunday. This season Arsenal.com will be identifying the key battles for the game. We will bring you all the statistics and information a fan could need so swot up now and come Sunday you will be impressing anyone who will listen with your new-found knowledge
Robin van Persie v Alex
After returning to the side for Tuesday’s Champions League defeat against Manchester United, Robin van Persie could retain his place up front for the visit of Chelsea. The Dutchman was Arsenal’s match-winner back in November but he hasn’t notched in the Premier League since January 28. The man charged with stopping the Gunners’ top scorer could be Alex. The big Brazilian has an 86 per cent tackling success rate in addition to one goal and one assist in his 22 appearances this term.
| Robin van Persie | Alex | |
| Appearances | 25 | 22 |
| Minutes played | 1943 | 1792 |
| Assists | 9 | 1 |
| Bookings | 4 | 1 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 6 | 0 |
| Successful dribbles | 8 | 1 |
| Goals scored | 9 | 1 |
| Complete passes | 92 | 89 |
| Incomplete passes | 50 | 37 |
| Shots off target | 47 | 10 |
| Shots on target | 41 | 15 |
| Woodwork struck | 5 | 1 |
| Tackles lost | 12 | 3 |
| Tackles won | 4 | 18 |
Bacary Sagna v Florent Malouda
No one has benefited from Guus Hiddink’s arrival more than Florent Malouda. The flying Frenchman’s career at Stamford Bridge looked to be over until Hiddink took the reins but ‘Bam Bam’ has turned in some exquisite performances for the Blues in recent months, notching twice in the last five Premier League matches. On Sunday, he could face countryman Bacary Sagna who has a 71 per cent tackling success rate and a marginally better pass completion record.
| Bacary Sagna | Flourent Malouda | |
| Appearances | 32 | 28 |
| Minutes played | 2700 | 1757 |
| Assists | 0 | 5 |
| Clearances | 40 | 3 |
| Unsuccessful crosses | 40 | 27 |
| Successful crosses | 4 | 4 |
| Goals scored | 0 | 4 |
| Complete passes | 148 | 103 |
| Incomplete passes | 75 | 54 |
| Shots off target | 6 | 29 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 29 |
| Woodwork struck | 0 | 2 |
| Tackles lost | 12 | 16 |
| Tackles won | 30 | 11 |
Johan Djourou v Didier Drogba
In the continued absence of William Gallas, there is a good chance that Johan Djourou will partner Kolo Toure in the centre of Arsenal’s defence. He looks set to lock horns with Dider Drogba who hit the headlines this week after his reaction to Chelsea’s Champions League elimination. The Ivorian has hit three goals in his last four League games in addition to that goal in the FA Cup Semi-Final. Djourou has lost only one tackle out of 12 this season but did, of course, score an own goal at Stamford Bridge in November.
| Johan Djourou | Didier Drogba | |
| Appearances | 15 | 21 |
| Minutes played | 1203 | 1277 |
| Assists | 0 | 2 |
| Blocked | 4 | 4 |
| Goals scored | 0 | 5 |
| Offsides | 1 | 17 |
| Own goals | 1 | 0 |
| Complete passes | 54 | 50 |
| Incomplete passes | 15 | 36 |
| Shots off target | 1 | 20 |
| Shots on target | 0 | 22 |
| Woodwork struck | 0 | 1 |
| Tackles lost | 1 | 4 |
| Tackles won | 11 | 6 |
