Arsenal-Chelsea: Who Will Overcome Midweek Heartbreak on Sunday?

For the first time, the two beaten semifinalists in the UEFA Champions League will play each other in their respective next games.

At the Emirates on Sunday, fourth place Arsenal entertain third-placed London rivals Chelsea.

Although both sides suffered defeats that couldn't be any more different, the feeling of emptiness and regret will loom large for both sets of players and fans.

Arsene Wenger's men went out with a whimper on Tuesday against English rivals Manchester United.

Trailing 1-0 from the away tie at Old Trafford, the Gunners saw their Champions League challenge die within 11 minutes of the second leg thanks to goals from Park Ji-Sung and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United got a third through Ronaldo before Arsenal managed to get some consolation from a Robin van Persie penalty.

Truth be told, Arsenal were never in the tie, and as manager Arsene Wenger claimed after the match, "it was like we never played the semifinal."

The manner of the defeat clearly hurt the Arsenal players, manager, and fans—many of whom left on the hour mark, unable to watch any further destruction.

Sunday's game will offer the Arsenal players an opportunity to bounce back from such an abject display. However, I am sure they would rather have easier opposition than Chelsea.

Guus Hiddink's charges themselves suffered heartbreak in the Champions League in midweek.

Unlike Arsenal, Chelsea were well in their tie and just two minutes away from booking their place in the final for the second successive year.

Michael Essien's stunning first half volley was cancelled out in the 92nd minute by an equally impressive strike from Andres Iniesta, sending Barcelona through on the away goals rule.

The Chelsea players and fans were overtly angered from the poor refereeing on the night, claiming that they had numerous penalty decisions turned down.

The antics of Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba have made sure Chelsea have remained in the media spotlight over the last few days, and the players now wait to see if they will be reprimanded by UEFA.

The manner of both defeats is sure to see a strange atmosphere at the Emirates on Sunday.

Will either set of fans be gloating?

Arsenal have nothing left to play for this season except the slight hope of catching Chelsea in third place.

Chelsea at least have the FA Cup Final to look forward to and still have an outside chance of taking second place in the League.

It will remain to be seen how both sets of players will react on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger must decide whether he will throw Kieran Gibbs back into the side after he was left heartbroken in the dressing room on Tuesday evening after his slip left in Park to score United's opener.

The Arsenal manager must also debate over who should start up front for Arsenal. Will Nicklas Bendtner be further punished for falling out of a club drunk at 4 AM on Wednesday morning, or will Wenger play him instead of the ineffectual Emmanuel Adebayor?

Arsenal are also sweating over the fitness of Russian wonder Andrei Arshavin, who reported to training on Thursday and Friday with the flu and sent home.

Meanwhile, Guus Hiddink must settle his angered charges down and refocus them on the job at hand.

With some players expected to exit Stamford Bridge during the summer, some may be playing for their Chelsea careers.

Whatever the outcome, the match promises to be an intriguing battle. The victors will just feel that bit better than midweek, while a loss will just compound the misery.

A draw will just keep the emotions at a status quo.