Arsenal have a chance to rekindle their title challenge on Sunday when they make the short trip to Stamford Bridge to face Premier League leaders Chelsea. 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.
Frank Lampard v Cesc Fabregas
Two titans of the Premier League go head-to-head in the middle of the park on Sunday as Cesc Fabregas, playing his first Premier League game as captain, faces the effervescent Frank Lampard. The England international has been more effective on the front foot than his Spanish opponent, scoring three more goals and boasting a higher pass completion rate, although Cesc has appeared three times less than Lampard.
| Frank Lampard | Cesc Fabregas | |
| Appearances | 14 | 11 |
| Minutes played | 1243 | 990 |
| Bookings | 0 | 5 |
| Clearances | 12 | 4 |
| Successful dribbles | 9 | 6 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls | 14 | 15 |
| Goals scored | 4 | 1 |
| Passes completed | 86 | 64 |
| Passes not completed | 44 | 44 |
| Shots on target | 34 | 19 |
| Shots off target | 16 | 10 |
| Tackles won | 13 | 6 |
| Tackles lost | 5 | 5 |
Petr Cech v Manuel Almunia
Clashes with Chelsea are notoriously close affairs. Only once in over 10 years has a Premier League encounter between the pair finished with more than a one-goal winning margin and when goals are so pivotal, the pressure on the goalkeepers is at its highest. Petr Cech has been in mercurial form during the opening stretch of the season as Chelsea have opened up a 10-point lead over the Gunners. The Czech stopper has conceded just four in his 12 appearances, making 52 saves in the process.
| Petr Cech | Manuel Almunia | |
| Appearances | 12 | 14 |
| Minutes played | 1080 | 1248 |
| Goals conceded | 4 | 17 |
| Distribution made | 124 | 145 |
| Successful distribution | 87 | 94 |
| Unsuccessful distribution | 37 | 51 |
| Clean sheets | 8 | 5 |
| Saves made | 52 | 60 |
Jose Bosingwa v Samir Nasri
It is said that foreign players usually take some time to adapt to the Premier League - not these two. If passed fit Samir Nasri, Arsenal’s major summer signing, will face the answer to Chelsea’s long-term right-back problem, Jose Bosingwa. The Portuguese international has provided the perfect counter-weight to Ashley Cole with some stunning displays on the right of the Blues’ defence. Nasri has struck four goals in his 10 appearances and boasts 89 per cent shot accuracy.
| Jose Bosingwa | Samir Nasri | |
| Appearances | 14 | 10 |
| Minutes played | 1243 | 796 |
| Assists | 1 | 1 |
| Clearances | 21 | 0 |
| Successful dribbles | 11 | 8 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 3 | 5 |
| Fouls | 13 | 9 |
| Goals scored | 2 | 4 |
| Passes completed | 73 | 42 |
| Passes not completed | 38 | 23 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 16 |
| Shots off target | 5 | 2 |
| Tackles lost | 4 | 6 |
| Tackles won | 13 | 1 |
