Preview: Arsenal Vs. Chelsea: Gunners Aim To Snap Skid Against Big Four Rivals

It has been a number of years since Arsenal beat Chelsea. Arsenal's short passes and speed have not been enough to unlock the Chelsea defense in recent years, but the outcome of this game will likely be determined at the other end of the field.

Chelsea's striker Didier Drogba has an impressive record against the Gunners, scoring 13 times in his 13 games. This is a bitter statistic for any Arsenal supporter, as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger considered signing Drogba before he moved to the Blues.

Arsenal's central defense has been a conspicuous weakness for the team this year, with summer signings Sebastian Squaillaci and Laurent Koscielny expected to partner in the middle of Arsenal's back four. Gunners' defender Thomas Vermaelen is struggling with an achilles tendon injury and isn't expected to return until the end of January.

Chelsea currently sit in fourth place in the table, with nine wins, four draws, and four losses. Their performances on the pitch has lacked the panache of recent years, as they have struggled with injuries and failed to replace outgoing transfers such as Michael Ballack and Ricardo Carvalho.

While Chelsea's squad lacks the depth of previous seasons, the core of the team that has consistently beat Arsenal in recent years remains.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that Arsenal are "afraid" of Drogba ahead of their clash on Monday. He predicted that the Gunners will be cautious ahead of their match with the Blues, considering Drogba's scoring record.

He said: "I think they are a little bit afraid of the performance of Drogba, because he's done very well against them.

"If Drogba plays at his best, we'll have more opportunity to win."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has called for a tougher Gunners ahead of the game with the Blues. Gunner's record against Chelsea and Manchester United, their two main opponents, over the past three years has been nothing less than abysmal—winning two, tying two, and losing fourteen.

Chelsea and Arsenal have already played one match in the Premier League this campaign at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Drogba and Alex.

Chelsea are relieved to welcome back Frank Lampard, who has been injured since late August. This is the first game that Lampard has been available since returning from injury, though his level of match fitness is not clear.