Premier League Weekly: Defeat against Chelsea will be catastrophic for Arsenal, and can Liverpool find their form again?

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte (left) and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger (Laurence Griffiths & Ian Walton/Getty Images)

CHELSEA are threatening to turn what could have been a six-way hunt for the title into a one-team procession.

Even when they did not win in midweek, Arsenal and Tottenham could not take advantage.

The lunchtime London derby at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal dominates PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKLY as we look at one of Chelsea’s unsung heroes and also see if Liverpool can revive their faltering form.

Three months to go and are Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread?

OH, ARSENAL. You do put your supporters through the mill season after season. Expectation of a brighter year only leads to a familiar crushing disappointment and this pattern has been repeated for the last 13 years. This season looks to be following a similar model, especially after Tuesday’s shock 2-1 loss at home to a Watford side, who had not won in the league since December 10.

This was the week when the Gunners were supposed to eat into Chelsea’s advantage at the top of the table and kick-start their own challenge. Three points against Watford would have reduced the gap to six ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Stamford Bridge. Instead it is nine and the feeling that defeat will put the final nail in their ambitions to be Champions. Victory would be a huge help but even worse, a defeat would be catastrophic.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez (John Walton/PA Wire) — Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez<br />(John Walton/PA Wire)

The usual failings have been in evidence as they have slipped off the pace. They lost leads at both Everton and Manchester City when the pressure was on. They were awful at Bournemouth and needed a late salvage job for a barely useful point in a 3-3 draw, and were even worse against Watford. A lack of mental strength, being two or three players short of a title-winning team, poor defensive work – we have heard all these excuses before.

We will know by 2.30pm tomorrow if the Arsenal class of 2016/17 is any different. We think we know the answer but can the likes of Mesut Ozil prove us wrong? Or will Arsene Wenger’s words of defiance be left sounding hollow once again?

Player of the Day: Cesar Azpilicueta

IN the week when Branislav Ivanovic took his leave of Stamford Bridge after a decorated nine years of service, it is only right to pay tribute to the player who has replaced him as Chelsea’s Mr Dependable.

Cesar Azpilicueta has been the unsung hero of their superb run in going nine points clear and should be considered as one of the players of the season. But the defining moment of Chelsea’s season came after 55 minutes of their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September when Antonio Conte switched to three central defenders. It was the system that the Italian favoured at Juventus and with the Italian national team and was rolled out properly at Hull a week later. Ivanovic was dropped and Azpilicueta moved over from left back to take up the position of right-sided central defender.

Cesar Azpilicueta (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Azpilicueta’s defensive nous has been excellent, while his natural full-back tendencies offer protection when Victor Moses charges forward from wing-back. Known as ‘Dave’ in the dressing room, the Spaniard is the sort of player on whom title campaigns are built – always fit, always consistent, rarely lets the team down and an ever-present this season.

Since the change to three at the back, the record is 12 clean sheets in 17 games and 46 points from a possible 51. That is the very definition of title-winning form. Azpilicueta cannot match Ivanovic’s knack of coming up with a vital goal, but he is going the right way about ensuring that Chelsea’s ability to consistently win trophies shows no signs of stopping.

Will Liverpool find February more appealing?

EVERY club has a bad month. Chelsea couldn’t win in September, Manchester United were bad in October and Manchester City had three costly losses in December. But Liverpool’s January blues seemed to top the lot. No wins from four games in the Premier League and out of both cup competitions represents a dreadful return for Jurgen Klopp’s team, which included Anfield losses to Swansea, Southampton and Wolves and a goalless draw with League Two Plymouth Argyle.

They started 2017 in second place and six points behind Chelsea. They are now fourth and only ahead of Manchester City on goal difference but have slipped ten points off the pace. Hopes of a first league title for 27 years have rescinded fast, there will be no silverware this year for the fifth straight season and they are left to battle for a top four spot. Liverpool fans will argue that was the aim all along, but it feels a let-down after some of the dazzling football played earlier in the season.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

One of those performances came in the 5-1 win over Hull in September. It’s the return fixture tomorrow and any kind of win would be welcome on Humberside. Sadio Mane should start his first game for a month after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, while the Reds will hope Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino can strike up their understanding again. Liverpool’s season is far from terminal, but it’s vital they get over their January blues as quickly as possible.