Arsenal haven’t beaten Chelsea in 12 games…

Blah blah blah.

Ahead of Sunday’s showdown at the Emirates, a game that is more about pride than anything substantial or likely to have an impact on this year’s league, apart from Arsenal’s final finishing position, the players and management have been saying all the right things.

Showing they are no longer the idiots who go chasing games and forget to leave any defenders in their own half, the Gunners have a chance to lay down yet another marker and set themselves up for next season.

“You start to see a team which is picking up momentum,” Kieran Gibbs said. “Even when we’re not playing at our best. The form we’re in has been the best for a long time so if there was ever a time it would be now.”

If Arsenal can beat Chelsea and then keep the majority of their squad fit next season they will be real challengers.

If…