Why Chelsea Will Win the Premier League Title in 2009/10

As an Arsenal supporter, it would be more appropriate to write an uplifting analysis of Arsenal's chances, and Chelsea's impending doom. However upon review this article can only take a realistic, non-partisan, view of Chelsea's current team and performances. For the opposition supporter, it doesn't make heartening reading.

Lie Down

Chelsea will suffer badly when Drogba and Essien go to the ACN.

Chelsea's squad is aging, they can't keep pace with the youth of Arsenal or the emerging new stars at Manchester United.

Chelsea's money isn't even as much as the new funding flooding into Manchester City.

Chelsea are a club in crisis with the private lives of Ashley Cole and John Terry coming under unwonted scrutiny in the media.

Chelsea have a goalkeeping issue with Cech and Hilario both injured.

Do any of the above arguments seem valid to you? They have all been given in the media at various points during the season, yet I would suggest they all sound somewhat hollow, given Chelsea's relentless march over EPL teams.

At the start of the season I predicted that Chelsea would win the title, not a difficult call, and although as an Arsenal fan I would love to see Chelsea slip up, I'm becoming increasingly convinced that it will never happen. At least not this season.


Impressive

It's not only the wins, or the scorelines, which are very impressive, but the manner of the wins. Comprehensive and convincing are superlatives often bandied around about their victories.

Since Didier Drogba beat Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in early February however it appeared that Chelsea would not have things all their own way. A loss to Everton the following week signalling, many thought, the start of a downfall.

Wins over Cardiff in the FA Cup and Wolves in the league showed strength of character though, and a 2-1 loss to Inter Milan was no real blip based on their performance. Chelsea should have won on the night, and are tipped highly to go through when Milan return to the Bridge this week.

The 4-2 beating by Man City, coming as it did, hard on the heels of private life revelations, should have thoroughly demoralised Chelsea. Yet were immediately followed by a 2-0 win against battling Stoke, and a 4-1 drubbing of West Ham.

This is clearly not a Chelsea team to lie down and take the knock-backs.


Managerial

The managerial merry-go-round that succeeded Jose Mourinho's reign, taking in Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Guus Hiddink, has settled with a no-nonsense, po-faced Italian with little time for egos but an extremely inclusive mentoring management style.

The players know who's boss, in private as well as in their media statements. Ancelotti leaves them in no doubt as to what he expects of them. John Terry may have been close to following Mourinho (many thought at the time), but his media comments demonstrate him to be Ancelotti's man now.

On a contract of £3M per year, Ancelotti has been hired not only to consolidate Chelsea's place as the premier club in the UK, but to bring back the one piece of silverware that none of his predecessors were capable of—the Champions League Trophy. He is certainly a great manager, that much is very clear already, but his escapades in Europe with Chelsea have yet to prove fruitful.


Make-up

On the one hand Chelsea is a team of highly paid superstars from all over the globe. On the other hand, Ancelotti has kept tight control of the egos in the team and forged them into a highly efficient unit whose will to win is second to none.

There isn't another EPL outfit who wouldn't love to have as effective a strike force as Drogba and Anelka, with 39 goals between them (admittedly 27 coming from Drogba), and a further 16 from midfield in the form of Lampard. Their top three scorers have an incredible 55 goals between them!

Whilst Mikel is still young at only 22, the rest of the first team top 17-18 players are in their late twenties and early thirties. In fact either at their peak, or just on the cusp of being past their best. But with such stars, just past their best is still easily enough to deal with the likes of Stoke and Wolves for example.

Unless more young talent is brought in, it could be argued, it is very likely that in the next two to three years Chelsea will simply fade away as their stars fade. That seems extremely unlikely at the moment however. There is also no sign that the financial regime at the club is on the brink of collapse—unlike some other top clubs.

Terry, Lampard and A Cole will probably have their last chance of national glory at the world cup this summer and they, like many of the team, know that this is their showcase—the better they play, the more chance of being picked for their national sides.


Run In

Heading towards the last eight or nine games of the league season, Chelsea have a relatively straightforward run. Blackburn, Portsmouth, Bolton, Stoke and Wigan should provide little by way of stern opposition.

Liverpool and Tottenham may prove less easy to brush aside, but neither have troubled Chelsea this season so far. Aston Villa beat Chelsea at Villa Park, but their form is eratic and Chelsea are far harder to beat at home. The toughest test is likely, of course, to be Manchester United.

Arsenal fans will no doubt hope Man United take points off Chelsea while losing points elsewhere themselves. Way back in November however United couldn't overcome Chelsea, and if anything, they look more resolute now.


Conclusion

Neccesarily having to pick snippets and glances at the various aspects of Chelsea's team and season (without wishing to write a book), a clear picture nevertheless emerges. A team of stars at their best with resolution, determination and a manager who gets the best from the team. A team who respond to setbacks with grit, determination and team spirit.

I'd like to say that sounds like Arsenal, and it's beginning to sound like them, but they're possibly a little young this year.

The conclusion is simple—as an Arsenal fan I want Chelsea to falter, and if they do, Arsenal could take advantage. Not ignoring Man United, who are also well placed to take advantage if Chelsea slip, they have a much harder run in than either Chelsea or Arsenal, and do not have the strength in depth across the team that Chelsea have.

As a realist, analyst and pundit; I do not expect Chelsea to give up so easily, and can't currently envisage them not winning the League title.