da bet vitoria： Most ex-footballers tend to back their old clubs when making score predictions, but Paul Merson is not giving Arsenal a hope in hell against Chelsea.
da 888： In fairness to the 48-year-old he has a point considering the impressive form that the Blues are in.
Antonio Conte’s men have only lost three times in the league this season, and 18 of their 23 matches have ended in victories.
They have a healthy nine-point lead at the top of the table and at the moment, no other team looks good enough to stop them from going all the way.
Interestingly, Arsenal are responsible for inflicting the most humiliating defeat that Chelsea have suffered this season when Arsene Wenger’s men ran out 3-0 winners at the Emirates.
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Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil all scored in the first half to stun the Blues, who licked their wounds and completely transformed themselves by pushing on to win 13 league games on the bounce.
Conte’s decision to adopt three at the back, with Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta taking on the roles, has been pivotal.
Arsenal currently sit third in the table, nine points behind Chelsea, but they head into this match on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Watford at the Emirates in midweek.
They will also be without Wenger on the touchline as he serves the third of a four-match ban issued by the Football Association.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, Merson predicted a 3-1 win for Chelsea, telling Sky Sports:
“Arsenal were shocking on Tuesday against Watford and they won’t be relishing this trip to Stamford Bridge. It’s a must-win game for Arsenal after their defeat to the Hornets, and they have got to go for it against the best team in the country. That will play into Chelsea’s hands. I just can’t make a case for Arsenal here. Chelsea are running away with the league and I think they’ll claim a comprehensive victory.”
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