Make or break for Grant and Wenger in a Stamford Bridge six-pointer
It's the mother of all weekends in the Premier League as the top four face-off in the battle for the Premier League title.
At Stamford Bridge its a true six-pointer for the stumbling title-chasers Chelsea and Arsenal. Chelsea shared an astonishing 4-4 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, despite being 3-1 ahead. Avram Grants team again folded in a high pressure situation. In games against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United they've failed to win. Also in the League Cup final against Spurs and again last night in a must win game, if they had Premier League aspirations, they also failed.
Grant made substitutions which instead of turning the game their way, turned it away from them at crucial times. Leading 3-2, after winning 3-1, he tried to close the game out by bringing on Costa as a sweeper. Instead, Chelsea lost their shape and Tottenham equalised. Again leading 4-3 after Joe Cole scored a superb goal, he brought on Ballack, Chelsea got caught cold, and that was it at 4-4. It said it all that Berbatov, who was excellent throughout, almost grabbed all three points at the death. As Rafa Benitez says, its all in the details.
Arsenal meanwhile, are on a run of draws, and the AC Milan game apart, have struggled for form and their goalscoring touch of late. Wenger knows this must be rapidly put right as the business end of the season is not the time to fade away. Now of all time Arsenal must find the free-flowing football which has earned them so many admirers this season.
Footy Focus can't help thinking rotation man, Rafa Benitez has a point but not the squad to do it! Liverpool are looking in fine fettle as the season comes to an end, while Chelsea and Arsenal are stumbling to the finish line!
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