England

Analysis: Few Should Bet On Chelsea To Blow It From Here

Kind fixture schedule suggests Carlo Ancelotti will hold sizable lead long into 2010.

Nov 29, 2009 1:28:38 PM

EPL: Didier Drogba, Arsenal - Chelsea (Getty Images)

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EPL: Didier Drogba, Arsenal - Chelsea (Getty Images)

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Chelsea

Two down, then, and just two still standing. With Liverpool already realistically out of the Premier League running, Chelsea sent Arsenal off to join the Reds down the boulevard of broken title dreams with a 3-0 win that, while perhaps flattering on the day, ably illustrated the difference between the two sides.

Despite Arsene Wenger's pre-match assertion, it was men against boys at the Emirates Stadium. The Frenchman's side are still a few agonizing factors short of being the real deal. The Blues already are.

The only team left capable of obstructing Carlo Ancelotti's march to a debut league triumph is Manchester United, champions for the last three seasons.

Yet this time Sir Alex Ferguson's side find themselves already five points adrift, before the campaign has even reached its half-way point.

Current league standings:

Team	P	GD	Pts
Chelsea	14	+28	36
Manchester United	14	+17	31
Tottenham Hotspur	14	+14	26
Arsenal	13	+18	25
Liverpool	14	+11	23

Such a gap is not necessarily insurmountable in November, but it will be formidable come February. And, thanks in part to an appealing winter schedule, there is little to suggest the Blues will drop many more points before the transfer window closes in just over two months' time.

Ancelotti, other than a trip to Manchester City next weekend, can look forward to a number of games against teams that are barely mid-table.

Blue mood | Arsenal's title threat was extinguished

Manchester United, facing a similar — perhaps even easier — batch of fixtures, would have hoped to use the period to eat into that gap, just as they would have fancied that today's trip to North London would have caused their rivals to slip up.

That didn't happen. And it would be folly to bet that it will in future.

Chelsea’s immediate challenge is to now go to Eastlands next weekend and get yet another impressive result. Mark Hughes’ side have drawn seven on the spin, but if the Blues can break that run and take all three points they will have jumped their final hurdle for a while.

December fixture list for title-challengers:

Chelsea	Arsenal	Manchester United
Manchester City (a)	Stoke City (h)	West Ham United (a)
Everton (h)	Liverpool (a)	Aston Villa (h)
Portsmouth (h)	Burnley (a)	Wolves (h)
West Ham United (a)	Hull City (h)	Fulham (h)
Birmingham City (a)	Aston Villa (h)	Hull City (a)
Fulham (h)	Portsmouth (a)	Wigan Athletic (h)

Everton at home the week after should be a difficult but eminently winnable game — especially considering the form of David Moyes’ side.

Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge just four days later should be a similar prospect — ideally Ancelotti will hope his side’s incredible record of having not conceded at home since the opening day will also still be intact.

Then comes a couple of difficult away challenges. West Ham have caused some big teams problems this season at Upton Park, and Birmingham on Boxing Day could also prove a tough prospect.

Alex McLeish has sculpted a fairly resolute defense at St Andrews, and one that might not yield easily in front of a packed post-Christmas house.

But with both teams struggling down at the bottom of the table, Chelsea will still be confident of seeing them off.

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A memorable 2009 will then hopefully be rounded off with another home win against local rivals Fulham, where a repeat of the comfortable 2-0 win they got at Craven Cottage at the beginning of the season will do nicely.

There is no reason then why Chelsea can't head into the New Year with the lead in the table still fairly substantial.

Much has been made about the players Chelsea will lose to the Africa Cup of Nations in January. But with just four eminently winnable league games in that period and the chance to make some big-name signings, it might actually be a very positive month at Stamford Bridge.

Only a visit to Old Trafford in April looks an obvious opportunity for United to take a chunk out of Chelsea's lead. But how big will the gap be by then?

Kicking on to the front of the pack very early, surely few would now bet against the Blues cantering on to a first league title in four years.

Alex Dimond, Goal.com

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