The trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday could prove to be pivotal if Arsenal's dwindling title ambitions are to remain on track. Arsene Wenger seems to not want do things the easy way, but still has the backing of the club and the fans in pursuit of his vision of winning with style, and also without financially crippling the club. With Manchester United due to go into a massive £ 1 billion in debt in the near future, the Glazer family seem to be content with on-field activities, so long it would seem that they can keep their hands in the cash till.

 

Chelsea too are in a financial mess, and even though Roman Abramovich has converted the club’s debt into soft loans, this financial smoke and mirrors has not gone un-noticed at FIFA and UEFA who have an agenda to see all clubs that are only financially viable take part in Europe’s cup competitions.

Well placed
So as both United and Chelsea appear on a financial road to ruin, Wenger has stressed the need to keep within financial limits. Players earn more elsewhere, just ask Emmanuel Adebayor who thought nothing of turning his back on the new Arsenal contract he had signed, to double his money at Eastlands. OK so both United and Chelsea won at the Emirates and again look to be on track to win the major prizes on offer. But as he keeps on stressing, Wenger has not given up on breaking the near duopoly as the Gunners sit well placed in third place.

Furious
So the trip to Stamford Bridge comes at a crucial juncture in the Gunners’ title campaign. On a run of ten unbeaten Premiership matches prior to the United loss, which also preceded the loss to the Blues last November. Wenger was furious after last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat and ordered his players in for extra training in place of what was originally a day off. As another transfer window has slammed shut, Wenger has once again backed his players to prove that they have the focus and desire to win things.

Wenger model
So what does that mean to those of us outside of the Gunners’ dressing room? We know that 2005 was the last time that Arsenal won anything, and most of this current crop of players were not around then. Simply put, Wenger wants his players to believe that they can prevail. Easy said than done, but win one trophy and the rest will follow. The first one will be the hardest, and if Cesc Fabregas can lift aloft silverware this season, then the Wenger model will have been a success. It wont necessarily be a failure if no silverware is not won this season, as the young side - if allowed to stay together - will ultimately win through. Sunday will provide a huge test for Arsenal’s title ambitions, as Chelsea will be hurting after dropped points at Hull and the sleaze and fall out from John Terry’s affair. The Chelsea captain was stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello on Friday and will be hurting. For Wenger, these will only be minor side issues.

Fight
"I believe we are still in a very good position," said Wenger. The result on Sunday will have an importance but no matter what happens we will fight until the last second of the season because you can see that everybody drops points. At the end of the day it could be down to the team that believes more than the others."

Desire
Accepting that the United loss was poor showing, Wenger stressed, who will give Abou Diaby a late fitness test ahead of the game. "We have an opportunity to turn up with a good performance. "We are conscious that we were not at our level against United last Sunday and it is a good opportunity to forget about it and focus on the next one. I believe we have the unity, the desire, the spirit and I know that before this game there will be a lot of scepticism around us but I believe in my players and in their spirit. We will show that." Having won at Stamford Bridge last season, the Arsenal players do know how to win there, and that must be their focus.

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