Chelsea v Arsenal preview

Nov 30 2008

CHEEKY Chelsea gaffer Luiz Felipe Scolari stoked up Arsenal's captaincy crisis by hailing his skipper John Terry as a born leader.

The misfiring Gunners have appointed Cesc Fabregas to replace William Gallas, stripped of the armband after slagging Arsenal's younger players.

Scolari has watched events unfold at the Emirates and thanked his lucky stars he has Terry as his right-hand man in the dressing room.

The Brazilian boss said: "The captain is the face for the coach on the pitch.

John was born a captain. He is the best a coach could have.

"When I was skipper of teams in Brazil I was the face of my coach and told the players what he wanted."

Chelsea could widen the gap over their London rivals to 13 points if they win this afternoon.

Scolari (far right) expects a more open game than last week's draw with Newcastle who shut down his players.

The boss said: "Arsenal will attack us and play football. We'll get more chances and be able to counter attack - but it won't be easy for us to win.

"My players know it is an important game at home. It is a big derby for us."

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger expects 21-year-old Fabregas to mature into the skipper's role.

In direct contrast to Scolari the Frenchman said: "There is no such thing as a born leader - it is something you learn when you are given responsibility and I believe Cesc can develop it."

Wenger is struggling badly with a string of injuries to top-team players that has forced him to blood teenagers such as Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.

He said: "This young squad has a fantastic future despite all the efforts from outside the club to break them.

"Some have 15 or 20 years in front of them. This team can be one of the forces in Europe for many years."