Chelsea go to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon with the pressure firmly on Liam Rosenior in the race to qualify for the Champions League, and Paul Scholes has provided his prediction.
Following last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Burnley, Rosenior said Chelsea had set fire to four points having gone ahead against Scott Parker’s men and Leeds beforehand. But Chelsea could only draw both.
Losing four points from the two games has seen Chelsea drop into fifth place, only ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and now three points behind Man United. Had they won, they would be sitting in fourth.
Who starts in place of Wesley Fofana against Arsenal?🤔
Wesley Fofana's replacement after Chelsea red card
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Instead, Chelsea’s push for the Champions League is now on a knife edge, even with fifth place likely to promise qualification. Gary Lineker thinks Chelsea will finish sixth, with Chelsea’s run looking daunting.
Chelsea go to Arsenal on Sunday, before facing both Manchester clubs, Aston Villa and Newcastle before the end of April. But Paul Scholes has given Chelsea fans reason to dream ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Paul Scholes believes Chelsea will avoid defeat against Arsenal
The Gunners welcome Chelsea having relieved some pressure themselves. After drawing against Wolves at Molineux, Arsenal bounced back to hammer Tottenham. But City are breathing down their necks.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes as a pundit in the Champions League.
Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images
The gap is just two points with 11 Premier League games to play. Speaking to Stick To Football this week, Manchester United icon Scholes reckons Chelsea will stop Arsenal and thinks Chelsea could even win.
“I fancy Chelsea. I think it could be 0-0. I think it will be a draw or a Chelsea win. Arsenal only won the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final because Chelsea needed a goal late on and it opened up.”
Roy Keane and Ian Wright disagree with Scholes’ prediction
While Scholes’ prediction will provide Rosenior and Chelsea with some belief and some hope of causing an upset at The Emirates, Roy Keane and Ian Wright were not so sure. They believe Arsenal will win.
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The first goal could be crucial, while keeping 11 players on the pitch is paramount. Wesley Fofana was sent off against Burnley and Chelsea’s discipline has come under the microscope in recent days.
Keane reckons Chelsea could easily go down to 10 men: “They will do something silly and get a man sent off again, they will do something daft, you watch.” Wright replied: “I’m going 3-1, we’ll murder them.”
Home advantage could be pivotal for Arsenal, but it could also prove to be a weapon Chelsea may use to their benefit. But avoiding defeat at The Emirates will probably be Rosenior’s best result as Blues boss.
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