Wenger praying for a miracle

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will hope to make it 13th time lucky against Jose Mourinho this weekend as his side attempt to delay Chelsea’s coronation as English Premier League champions.

Wenger has never prevailed against Mourinho in 12 attempts and even if he redresses that statistic at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, it is unlikely to prevent Chelsea from claiming the title.

Having recorded an efficient 1-0 win over third-place Manchester United last weekend, Chelsea are 10 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table with six games remaining.

Victory tomorrow would leave them needing three points from next Wednesday’s trip to Leicester City, currently embroiled in a rel- egation battle, to claim a first league crown since 2010.

But while the championship seems destined for Stamford Bridge, Arsenal have drawn encouragement from a run of nine consecutive wins, including an FA Cup semifinal defeat of Reading that took the holders into the final.

Tomorrow’s derby will see Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas return to the club where he previously spent eight years – including three as captain – and Wenger hopes he will be spared a hostile reception.

“I want every player to be respected, and Fabregas when he comes to the Emirates to be respected like he deserves,” said Wenger, who clashed with Mourinho on the touchline in October’s reverse fixture.

Eden Hazard netted Chelsea’s winner against United -- his 18th goal of the season -- and is hotly tipped for honours in the Professional Footballers’ Association awards.

“He is flying. In my opinion it’s been the best season of his career,” teammate Branislav Ivanovic told the Chelsea website.

Hazard’s strike ended United’s six-game winning run and saw their lead over fourth-place Manchester City cut to a point as the champions won 2-0 at home to West Ham United.

City can provisionally climb above both Arsenal and United by winning at home to Aston Villa today but Tim Sherwood’s side are in buoyant mood after sinking Liverpool to reach the FA Cup final.

United travel to Everton tomorrow, a year on from a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park that preceded David Moyes’s dismissal as manager.

Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish are fading fast, with Manchester City seven points above them in the standings, albeit having played a game more. – AFP