Lee Dixon: Arsenal to edge Chelsea in close-fought encounter

Arsenal enjoy that goal at City - will we see similar scenes on Saturday?

The table shows Chelsea leading the pack but Arsenal have been impressive in the early Premier League skirmishes and Lee Dixon fancies a win for the Reds over the Blues on Saturday lunchtime...

An improving Arsenal side can cap a good few weeks with a win in this London derby to go within a point of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

Both are unbeaten in the league this year and the draw is a tempting option at 3.55/2 but I just have a feeling that the Gunners will edge a close one at the Emirates.

The fixture list has been kind on Chelsea and they have taken full advantage, but they laboured against Stoke and were held by QPR in their last two matches. By contrast Arsenal were the better side at Manchester City last time out after battering Saints the week before.

I don't think my old club will outclass the Blues but I do suspect they'll have the edge in a tight encounter.

For the first time in years Chelsea will not be able to call upon the services of Didier Drogba and that could be significant. The Ivorian powerhouse has single-handedly dismantled many an Arsene Wenger teams down the years and it'll be a relief to all at The Emirates that he won't line up for the opposition on Saturday.

Two 'strikers' who may well see game-time are Theo Walcott and Fernando Torres. The inverted commas are there because of Theo - who's spent much of the week talking about his desire to play upfront rather than on the wing. Two goals against Coventry on Wednesday night in a 6-1 Capital One Cup win may have sealed a start for him, though we did see Olivier Giroud open his account too.

For Chelsea, the struggles of Torres continue to gobble up the attention, though he was another midweek scorer as Roberto di Matteo's men trounced Wolves.

A bright start to this Premier League season brought two goals in the first three games for the Spaniard but he's produced two blanks thereafter. I'm more patient than most and would back him to produce the goods in the long-term but the fans are starting to lose patience and that is not good.

Chelsea's bizarre transfer policy has left the club light on strikers but with no shortage of tricky, skilful midfielders. Without Drogba, and with Romelu Lukaku on loan, the Blues lack muscularity and options up top.

Looking at the two teams, I just see a bit more versatility and solidity about Arsenal and a back of the home team will be my lead-off bet for the weekend. And if Theo gets a start something tells me he could be netting, too.

Recommended Bets
Back Arsenal to win @ 2.226/5
Back Theo Walcott to score @ 4.67/2 (if he starts)