LONDON: The beautiful attacking football that Arsenal play have won the Gunners many fans.

Just do not count Michael Essien among them.

'Everybody likes to watch beautiful football, but to play beautiful football without points is ... I don't think it's worth it. Arsenal is one of those teams that just play beautiful football, but, at the end of the day, they don't get the points that they want to.' ... more

In fact, the Chelsea midfielder has taunted Arsenal as all style and no substance, reported The Guardian.

Ars�ne Wenger's team have not won a trophy since 2005 and sit six points behind the Premier League leaders, Chelsea, despite last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United.

Chelsea have 29 points at the top of the table while Arsenal are third on 23.

'Everybody likes to watch beautiful football, but to play beautiful football without points is...I don't think it's worth it.

'Arsenal is one of those teams that just play beautiful football, but, at the end of the day, they don't get the points that they want to.'

Essien has been restricted to only two appearances under Luiz Felipe Scolari, who took over as Chelsea's manager in the summer, because of a knee ligament injury suffered while playing for Ghana in September.

Scolari has been widely praised for improving the fluency of Chelsea's play but Essien, who won a League title, FA Cup and League Cup at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho, does not regard attractive football as a priority.

'For me, I don't care,' he told the Inside Sport programme on BBC1.

'To be rough and get three points or play well and get three points - win ugly or beautifully - I don't care.'

His remarks are bound to stoke the rivalry between the two London clubs, who will meet at Stamford Bridge at the end of the month.

Despite United's defeat, Essien's teammate Frank Lampard believes that the reigning Premier League champions are still threats for the crown.

United are fourth on 21 points after Saturday's defeat by the Gunners.

Lampard told BBC: 'United will always be big contenders, whether they are five or eight points behind.

'There is a slight gap opened up between the top two, but the big four just keep grinding out results.'

Meanwhile, Wenger expects his young guns to build on the momentum created by their stunning win when they host Wigan in the League Cup fourth round today.

Wenger uses the competition as a way of grooming his emerging talents for the Premier League, and last time out in this tournament, they beat a strong Championship side Sheffield United 6-0.

Supporters watched in delight at the weekend as Arsenal beat United, but the same fans will gather at the Emirates Stadium in the hope of seeing another thrilling night of football from an almost entirely different set of players.

One of the players called upon will be Carlos Vela, the 19-year-old Mexican who scored a hat-trick in that success over Sheffield United.

Nicklas Bendtner is likely to play beside him in attack, and is looking forward to creating an exciting partnership.

Wenger has no fears over using this fixture to give his more experienced players a well-earned rest.

Only goalkeeper Lukasz Fanianski and midfield players Alex Song and Denilson are likely to feature from the side that beat United.

'The team show a good mixture of talent,' Wenger said. 'They also show a mature collective spirit to play the way we want to play.

'I am very proud of that. We looked strong when we played against Sheffield United in every individual position, and that takes a lot of hard work.

'I would not be afraid to use any of my young players learning their jobs.'

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE