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TROUBLED DUO: Scenes like this between Chelsea manager Avram Grant (left) and striker Didier Drogba may become a thing of the past, if the Blues don't buck up. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON - THERE was a call for dressing-room unity from Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole ahead of tomorrow's Super Sunday clash with Arsenal.
'We're all in it together,' he said. 'We all need to fight. There's still a great chance for us to do something really special this season.'
Chelsea have been fighting - with each other. The latest outbreak was caused by losing the lead three times to throw away two vital points in Wednesday's 4-4 draw at Tottenham.
Striker Didier Drogba had a furious dressing-room row with assistant coach Henk ten Cate, after being left fuming at Chelsea manager Avram Grant's bungling tactics.
The Israeli took off the superb Cole, brought on centre-back Alex, and switched to a three-man defence - even though Chelsea had never used that system before. This handed Tottenham the chance for the fightback.
As he left the pitch at the end of the match, a clearly frustrated Drogba shouted at assistant coach Steve Clarke: 'What was he doing?'
He carried his rant into the dressing room and confronted ten Cate, reported The Mirror.
Chelsea now have a five-point deficit to make up on Premier League leaders Manchester United. Defeat against Arsenal could kill off their chances.
Drogba was slightly more diplomatic when confronted by the press.
'The Tottenham game was like a loss because we were controlling the game,' he said. 'We were winning 3-1. So, for me, it was like we had lost the game.
'But we still believe. Arsenal are a wonderful team with the ball, but we are very powerful.
'At this time of the season, you won't see a big scoreline between the teams because all the matches are now pressure games. Hopefully, we will come out stronger.'
Drogba is particularly looking forward to going head-to-head with former Chelsea teammate William Gallas, as well as compatriot Kolo Toure.
'Hopefully, I will score,' said Drogba. 'William knows he will be coming to the cauldron of Stamford Bridge. He will be booed. I will need help from the crowd to unsettle him.'
Chelsea's home record of 78 unbeaten games remains formidable.
But Arsenal were the last team to defeat the Blues - in February 2004. Plus, the Gunners have lost only once in 11 years in the League at Stamford Bridge.
And it was Gallas who scored the only goal of the game in the meeting of the two sides at the Emirates Stadium last December.
Arsenal have lost just one League game this season, but they have drawn far too many - most notably, four out of the last four.
This is where Emmanuel Adebayor comes in. After scoring 12 times in nine games, the striker has only one goal in the last seven, reported the BBC.
Arsenal desperately need him to get on the scoresheet.
'We have to come out with loads of determination, power, energy and will, and really show that we can come back to winning ways in the League,' Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner said.
'It's very important for us to push on now. We cannot allow any more points to be dropped. Otherwise, we won't make it. It's that simple.'
Chelsea's biggest problem, other than the injury to first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech, is how Grant will use Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
There is no reason why they cannot play together - Drogba as the target man and Anelka making his runs around the Ivorian.
But Grant prefers a lone man up front, and does not seem to be able to think beyond that tactically.
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