Conte urges Blues to deliver the goods against Gunners

Antonio Conte says Chelsea must seize the chance to move a step closer to winning the Premier League when the Blues face Arsenal in Saturday’s crucial summit meeting.

Conte’s side tops the standings by nine points with 15 games remaining and a victory over title rival Arsenal at Stamford Bridge would be a significant moment in the race to replace Leicester as English champion.

Beating the third-place Gunners would move Chelsea 12 points clear of Arsene Wenger’s side, as well as sending a message to the chasing pack that the Blues are determined to hold on to their lead.

Conte would also love to avenge a 3-0 loss to the Gunners at Emirates Stadium in their previous meeting this season.

That was the most chastening moment of Conte’s first season at Chelsea and the Italian, whose side has lost only one of its past 17 league games, said: “There are 15 games remaining and 45 points. Now we must focus on Arsenal.

“They are a great team who can fight for the title. Don’t forget we lost 3-0 away.

“This could be a good chance for us to show that in the second part of the season we are a totally different team if you compare us to the previous game.

“It is a good chance for us. We play at home, which is very important, but it will be a really tough game.”

With Chelsea held to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Tuesday, Arsenal squandered an opportunity to close the gap as it crashed to a 2-1 home loss against Watford.

Wenger’s side hasn’t won at the Bridge since 2011 and it must end that drought to remain in the title hunt.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who won four league titles during his time at Chelsea, said of the Watford loss: “It was a huge setback because we wanted to put ourselves in a better position going into the weekend.

“I always say that at this level you cannot play 80 minutes, or 85. You have to play 90 minutes with full concentration and everybody on top of their game.”

Foul mood

Meanwhile, second-place Tottenham hosts Middlesbrough as it tries to regain ground on Chelsea after drawing its last two matches.

“With the mentality we have here, we would be upset to finish in the same position as last season,” said Tottenham’s Eric Dier.

“We want to be better and we want to show it. Everyone wants to reach the very top.”

Both managers will be in the spotlight at King Power stadium as troubled Leicester and sputtering Manchester United clash.

United manager Jose Mourinho was in a foul mood after Hull held on for a scoreless draw in midweek that left his team four points back of the top four teams.

Ranting about decisions by the officials and a perceived lack of fair treatment, Mourinho cut a paranoid figure.

United defender Phil Jones said the atmosphere among United players was at a low ebb.

“We said before the game that this was our chance to put some pressure on the teams above us, but we couldn’t capitalize on it,” he said.

“We’re bitterly disappointed. The lads are down in the dressing room, as you’d expect.”

Leicester’s fairytale title triumph already seems like a distant memory as Claudio Ranieri’s team finds itself just two points above the relega- tion zone in the wake of three straight losses.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola likened the early success of Gabriel Jesus to opening a tasty watermelon following the teenage Brazilian forward’s goal in the 4-0 win at West Ham in midweek.

With City 10 points behind Chelsea, Guardiola will hope his decision to select Jesus just weeks after his arrival from Palmeiras bears more fruit against lowly Swansea.

In another weekend match, fourth-place Liverpool travels to Hull aiming to end a fourgame winless run in the league.