Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes grim Arsenal prediction for Chelsea clash | Football
Former Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is backing his old club to dent Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes this weekend.
A dominant north London derby victory over Tottenham saw the Gunners open a five-point lead at the top once again last Sunday with 10 games left to play.
Manchester City do have a game in hand, however, with the two sides also set to meet in the Carabao Cup final in March.
Arsenal also head to the Etihad for what could be a season-defining match in April but there could be plenty more twists and turns before that date.
Mikel Arteta’s side have one of their toughest games of the run-in looming this weekend against Chelsea, who they dumped out of the Carabao Cup across two legs.
The Blues did hold Arsenal to a draw in the first Premier League meeting between the two at Stamford Bridge back in August, also holding City to a draw at the Etihad in January.
Arsenal have lost at home just once this season to Manchester United with City and Liverpool leaving with a point.
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While Chelsea laboured to a draw at home to Burnley, last week, their former striker Hasselbaink is confident they will leave north London with at least a point.
The next game for Arsenal against Chelsea is the one, I don’t see them winning against Chelsea,’ Hasselbaink told Sky Sports.
‘Chelsea are a strange kind of team, they will go out to a big team and get a result, get a draw or get a win. They can do that. That’s just how they are. We have seen it.
‘I think that game for Arsenal will be so much harder than the Spurs game. Then maybe they [Arsenal and City] are both on the same points. Then we see who is up for it.’
Arsenal threw away a two-goal led against Wolves last week, leaving Molineux with a point three days before their derby showdown with Tottenham.
While Spurs are now being sucked into a relegation scrap, Hasselbaink did not give them any chance of landing a blow on their rivals.
And while sensing there could be a slip-up this weekend, he is still backing Arsenal to get over the line.
‘I do think they are the favourites and I do think they are going to win it, they have the strongest squad,’ he said.
But I always saw them winning at Spurs. even with the pressure. I never thought Spurs would even get a draw, especially after the Wolves game because when Arsenal have a point to prove, the majority of the time they deliver.’
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes grim Arsenal prediction for Chelsea clash | Football
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