Chelsea v Arsenal: Matic wants revenge, Hazard dismisses Tottenham, Fabregas grateful

Eden Hazard believes Arsenal and Manchester United will be Chelsea's biggest challengers for the Premier League title. Chelsea host Arsenal on Saturday. Clive Mason / Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has said his side will be seeking to avenge the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal when the London rivals face each other on Saturday.

The September loss at the Emirates Stadium looked to derail any hopes Chelsea had of winning the Premier League title as, combined with defeat to Liverpool in their previous match, left them trailing then leaders Manchester City by eight points.

However, the setbacks forced manager Antonio Conte to switch his system to 3-4-3, a change that has sparked a run of 15 wins, one defeat and one draw as Chelsea surged into a nine-point lead atop the Premier League table.

“Are we looking forward to this game even more to put things right? Of course. We want to see where we are and where they are (as a team),” Matic, 28, said.

“We will try to win because we are at home. They also have qualities and will try to find opportunities. But I’m sure that we are ready, mentally and physically, and I’m sure the supporters will enjoy this game.

“You can lose a game but the most important thing is how you react and in that game against Arsenal, we didn’t react on the pitch well. I’m sure it will be a different story on Saturday.”

Chelsea have a great opportunity to extend the gap over third-placed Arsenal, who failed to capitalise on Chelsea’s draw at Liverpool when they lost at home to Watford on Tuesday. Arsenal trail the leaders by nine points.

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Read more

■ Frank Lampard: A Chelsea legacy created by hard work and lots of goals

■ Predictions: Chelsea v Arsenal and the other Premier League matches

■ Diego Forlan column: Arsenal need to move on from Arsene Wenger

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Meanwhile, Eden Hazard has picked Arsenal and Manchester United as Chelsea’s main rivals in the title race and said he expected Tottenham Hotspur to fade away due to their relative lack of experience.

“I think Arsenal and Manchester United (are the biggest title rivals),” Hazard told Sky Sports.

“United had a bad first part of the season and I think for a couple of games now, they played well. They have good players and the squad is very good. The manager is good, so they will be second or third.

“Tottenham also are strong. We lost there, but for me it is more Manchester United. They are more experienced. That is my opinion, maybe I’m wrong.”

Cesc Fabregas tried to make peace with Arsenal as the Chelsea midfielder hailed his old club’s influence on his career.

Fabregas, 29, made his name at Arsenal after arriving from Barcelona as a teenager, spending eight years as the club’s midfield linchpin.

He rejoined Barcelona in 2011 before signing for Chelsea three years later when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declined to take up an option on his former captain.

Many Arsenal supporters have turned on Fabregas for joining their bitter rivals, but the Spain international insists there is no bad blood from his point of view.

“Yes, forever. There’s something that will never change,” Fabregas said when asked if he had fond memories of his time at Arsenal.

“There’s many things said about me, about Arsenal. I don’t really care what people think about me any more. It’s just about what I feel towards them.

“Arsenal will always be the team that believed in me the most. I was a young kid, 16 years old, playing for Barcelona.

“Arsene Wenger, especially, and Arsenal Football Club, gave me everything.

“Without them I would not be a World Cup winner, a European Championship winner.

“I would not have experienced all of this that I’m doing in my life. I will always forever be grateful.”

* Agencies

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