Chelsea may have crept quietly into contention in the race for the Barclays Premier League title, but they have not gone unnoticed by Gaël Clichy, the Arsenal left back. With the teams meeting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, he is aware of the challenge that their rivals from West London are mounting.

“I don’t think Chelsea have been overlooked,” Clichy said. “We always knew that they were going to be there at the end of the season, with such a great team and all the players they have got in their squad. Chelsea won two league championships and the only thing that they are missing is the Champions League. Of course, I won’t wish them good luck in that this year because we are still in it as well.”

A run of four successive draws has resulted in Arsenal relinquishing their long-time lead in the Premier League, with Manchester United three points ahead at the top. Chelsea are two points behind Arsenal in third place.

“Chelsea have been behind in the league and that’s not easier because you always have to win your games to catch up,” Clichy said. “But when you are in third place, people don’t look at you like they look at the first team.

“We’ve had the experience of being on top and the pressure has been on. It’s good to be top, it shows the quality is there, but it’s not bad to be second or third. It will be an interesting end to the season and we hope we can come out in first place.”

For the short trip across the capital, Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, is expected to retain the same team that drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, when Kolo Touré salvaged a point with an 86th-minute equaliser. Robin van Persie, who played for an hour at the weekend after returning from injury, should be fitter for the experience.

However, Tomas Rosicky, the Czech Republic midfield player, is still troubled by knee and hamstring problems and is unlikely to return.

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