Fabregas: could play key role

Avram Grant promised us sexy football, so far I haven't seen any sign of it. And on Sunday, if we are going to see any, it is going to come from the Gunners.

Matt Le Tissier
Quotes of the week

GRAND SLAM SUNDAY EXPERTS
Awesome foursome
Andy Gray on the big four
United they stand
Le Tissier on L'pool-Man Utd
Machine Gunned
Le Tissier on Arsenal-Chelsea

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Teams

• Arsenal
• Chelsea

Grand Slam Sunday
Arsenal v Chelsea
3.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Both Grand Slam Sunday games are as big as they come, but if I had to pay to watch one of them, it would be this.

Nothing against Liverpool or United, but this just holds more intrigue. It is really a clash of styles, which should make sure we are in for a treat.

It might not be packed with goals but it will be fascinating to see these two going at it. Arsenal with their one-touch, pass-and-move football, Chelsea with the more mechanical approach that grinds out results.

Avram Grant promised us sexy football, so far I haven't seen any sign of it. And on Sunday, if we are going to see any, it is going to come from the Gunners.

They have played some exhilarating stuff this season, some sensational one-touch pass-and-move football and they have been a joy to watch.

They might have lost for the first time in the league at Middlesbrough, but it hardly represents a crisis, does it? In their defence, Arsenal did have three away games in the space of eight days, which is tough going even when you are not missing some of your biggest players.

I think any Premier League manager would've probably taken six points from that, so four is by no means a disaster. And like I say, Arsene Wenger has had some important players missing.

I am not sure how far from full fitness Mathieu Flamini, Aleksandr Hleb and Cesc Fabregas actually are, but Wenger has said he might have to gamble. If he takes a punt on any of them, it has to be Fabregas. If there is a chance that he can play for 60 or 70 minutes then he has to start.

Arsenal don't have to go and win this game, but they would love to. And they are just a different side with Fabregas in it. You can't help but admire the way he keeps possession all the time - not just sideways or backwards either, he can produce good, incisive passes as well. He is such an integral part to the way they play.

Straight into the heart

How good is he? Well, in all my years I can't think of another 17-year-old who was brought into a top, top side, to play in central midfield. And do it so well. Normally kids get stuck out wide, but this lad went straight into the heart of the side and looked so comfortable.

The one criticism of him was that he didn't get enough goals. So what has he done this season? Score goals. I have been surprised at just how well he finishes. Hleb is another player who is important because with Robin van Persie still not 100 per cent, it is hard to see who else can play in that hole behind Emmanuel Adebayor.

It is a pretty tough role to play but it is made much, much easier when there is a player behind you who can pick out your runs - which again, shows just how important Fabregas is.

The same goes for Didier Drogba with Chelsea. Losing him is a massive, massive blow to the Blues.

It has been a tough season at Stamford Bridge for one reason or another, but the one thing that has dragged them through is Drogba's goals. He has been in and out, but when he's in, he is their main man. No doubt about it.

Without him, at The Emirates, you would think Avram Grant will go for a 4-5-1. It looks like it has to be Andriy Shevchenko up there and it depends on the manager as to who of Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole gets the nod to join in from those wide positions.

Claudio Pizarro was given a run-out in midweek but I haven't been that impressed with the brief glimpses of him we've had this season. Shevchenko's situation doesn't seem to have changed much under the new manager, but he got a goal the other week, so should get the nod.

Meaner at the back

Frank Lampard is not scoring as freely as he usually does, which means this is not exactly a Chelsea side packed with goals. For all his talk, Avram Grant hasn't really changed much, they are still effective and if anything, now they have Alex to cover for John Terry or Ricardo Carvalho, are even meaner at the back.

It's still the same functional, result-first Chelsea we got with Jose Mourinho, although to be fair to Grant he hasn't been able to sign players and he has just gone about his business quietly. There's been very little noise coming out of Stamford Bridge, certainly compared with the previous manager, but they are going along quite nicely.

You would've thought there is more to come from them, but I can't see them suddenly turning into a side that pass and move like Arsenal do and attack at will - especially at home. Chelsea will certainly be happy with a point and will probably be content to play on the break. It will be up to this young Arsenal side, hopefully led by Fabregas, to break them down.

Le Tiss Predicts

HOME WIN - I really can't see this being a game full of goals, but if you want to see two top teams, who come at the game from opposing sides and know just what they're doing, then you can't miss this. I can see Arsenal having plenty of possession, it's just whether or not they can break down a Chelsea defence that looks tougher than ever. But Arsene Wenger's side need to win to stay top of the table and put the Middlesbrough defeat behind them. It might only take one goal and it might take a while to come, but I'll go for the good old 1-0 to the Arsenal.

Matt's main man

CESC FABREGAS - I am sure Arsene Wenger, his team-mates, Arsenal fans and probably the neutrals will be hoping he is fit enough. Chelsea fans won't be of course, but even if he can't last the 90, I would play him because Arsenal need his clever passing and his goals, just as much as Chelsea need Drogba. It would be a shame if players missing decided this one, so let's hope Fabregas is fit enough.