Bolton Wanderers face Chelsea tomorrow, and loan winger Ryo Miyaichi could have a big part to play.
There is no escaping it, the race for fourth place has become almost as important as the title race itself.
Arsenal and Chelsea are both increasingly desperate to secure the Champions League spot, although Liverpool and Newcastle United both have a strong chance themselves of landing it.
While Arsenal’s hearts and minds will be almost entirely occupied on Sunday’s North London derby with Spurs, they will be keeping one eye on their West London rivals too.
Chelsea host Bolton at Stamford Bridge, a match which once would have once been chalked up as a home banker, but despite the Trotters’ poor season, Chelsea’s leaky defence gives the relegation battlers hope.
One of the most intriguing plot lines will see Chelsea defender Gary Cahill face his former club for the first time since his £7 million move.
He has had a tough start to life at the Bridge and this could be a game which kick starts his Chelsea career.
But Arsenal fans will have their hopes pinned on one man, their on-loan playmaker Ryo Miyaichi.
The Japanese starlet spend last season loaned to Feyenoord in Holland where he was very successful, earning the nickname ‘Ryodinho’, but was not given an opportunity back at the Emirates, so he followed the footsteps of teammate Jack Wilshere in opting for a January loan move to Owen Coyle’s side.
He came on as a substitute in their 2-1 defeat to Wigan, and nearly scored a crucial equaliser, only to be denied by a good save by Ali Al-Habsi.
It was enough to earn a start in his next game, a tricky FA Cup tie with Millwall, but he scored and delivered a quality all round performance.
Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge was Bolton’s loan star last season, and he too will have a say in tomorrow’s result.
But Arsenal fans will be crossing their fingers that Miyaichi can score or provide a crucial goal, to pile more pressure on Chelsea, and give them a lift going into their important clash with Tottenham.
Can Miyaichi influence the result tomorrow? Let us know what you think
image: © Free-ers
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