Victory is imperative for Arsenal on Sunday if they are to have any hope of snatching third place in the Barclays Premier League from their west London rivals. The Gunners lie six points behind the Blues with just three games to play. A point for Guus Hid

Victory is imperative for Arsenal on Sunday if they are to have any hope of snatching third place in the Barclays Premier League from their west London rivals.

The Gunners lie six points behind the Blues with just three games to play.

A point for Guus Hiddink's side will virtually ensure a top-three finish as they have a superior goal difference, although two heavy defeats for Chelsea, and two thumping wins for Arsenal, would still see the Gunners overtake them.

It is a highly unlikely scenario.

Chelsea's away record is awesome having taken more points on the road than any other side, winning 12 of their 17 games away from Stamford Bridge and conceding only nine goals in the process - the best defensive away record in the top four divisions.

But they have yet to taste victory at Emirates, earning just one point from their first two trips to Arsenal's new home.

A first double over the Blues since 2003/04 - after Arsenal's impressive 2-1 win at the Bridge in November - would be some consolation for Arsene Wenger following last month's 1-2 loss in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

A draw for the homeside would extend their unbeaten league run to 22 matches - a sequence which began with that win at Chelsea on November 30.

But Wenger will want Didier Drogba to be left out of the visiting party at the weekend; the Ivory Coast striker has scored eight times against Arsenal since arriving in England nearly five years ago and has a habit of scoring key goals against his sides.

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