Arshavin has scored five goals for Arsenal so far this season
Arsenal will need their A-team to be at its very best if they're to beat Chelsea on Sunday - Andrey, Alex and Almunia.
Andrey Arshavin can win any game in a blink of an eye, Alex Song has become an integral part of Arsene Wenger's formation and Manuel Almunia is the Premier League's most improved keeper.
It's far too early to label games title deciders but if the Gunners lose at the Emirates, they'll be 11 points behind Chelsea. Even with a game in hand, it would take an enormous effort and a collapse by the current leaders for Arsenal to overhaul them.
For a game of this magnitude, managers need all of their top names fit and firing so Arsenal are at a disadvantage before a ball is kicked.
Robin van Persie will be badly missed. In their free-flowing attacking style, he is the pivotal line leader who brings runners into play as well as scoring himself.
Nicklas Bendtner is the only like-for-like Arsenal have and he's sidelined too.
Eduardo and Carlos Vela are more predatory-style penalty box strikers, although the Mexican linked with the midfield superbly at times on Tuesday against Standard Liege.
Gael Clichy and his deputy Kieran Gibbs are also missing and while Armand Traore played at Sunderland on Saturday and learned a lot in his loan spell at Portsmouth last season, to come into such an important game as this London derby is a big ask for a 20-year-old.
William Gallas is struggling too with a swollen eye after a clash of heads with team-mate Arshavin on Tuesday. To make matters worse, Frank Lampard looks like returning to the Chelsea starting line-up ahead of schedule and Didier Drogba proved his fitness in Porto after a fortnight out.
He was the difference between the sides at last season's FA Cup semi-final and Arsenal have too often been badly bullied by physical strikers in recent seasons. In Thomas Vermaelen they have a backyard scrapper who can handle himself if things cut up rough, but he needs Gallas alongside him.
Drogba and Anelka, who will be Chelsea's key against his old club, have scored 12 of their side's 33 league goals this season. Since the scoreless draw at Barcelona's Nou Camp in April, the Blues have netted in 27 games in a row. If they get one on Sunday, it will break the previous club record of scoring in consecutive games set in 1985.
Anelka and Drogba have both been at their best this season
On paper, it is hard to see Arsenal shutting them out. They have kept three clean sheets in the Premier League so far, but don't underestimate Almunia. I used to and did not rate him at all when he first stepped into the side to replace Jens Lehmann.
Martin Keown tried many times to convince me that the Spaniard was good enough to play for England once he'd qualified through residence here and I would not have it. Now though, I can see the argument.
The 32-year-old is at his peak. One save he made against AZ Alkmaar in the Champions League early this month was out of this world. His handling is more secure. His command of the penalty box is authoritative and that's something Chelsea can't say about Petr Cech.
Chelsea will be conservative and a draw will be a very good result for them even though they have won both of their games so far against expected big-four clubs and also won both the London derbies they have played.
The visitors will be dangerous at set-pieces and I expect them to score from one. They look very strong but will need no reminding that a year ago Arsenal put the skids under their title tilt with a win at the Bridge.
If the Gunners play as they did at Sunderland, the visitors will win at a canter but if they can replicate some of the swift-flowing football of Tuesday against Liege, then they can shake up the title chase.
Arshavin and Cesc Fabrigas were at their eye-catching best even though the little Russian played the second half with stitches in a gaping head wound caused by the clash with Gallas. The £15m signing from Zenith St Petersburg has lit up the Premier League over the last 10 months.
It's a crying shame that Arshavin won't be at next year's World Cup finals
Jonathan Pearce
At just 5'8" he has great strength for his size. His turn of foot is deceptive and his skills can mesmerise. Time and again he'll create chances with astute passing as Arsenal again flourish with flair football.
Many people talked about the need to have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup finals when their countries were struggling to qualify but it's a crying shame that Arshavin will not be there.
He's one of the best footballers on the planet and is also a big-game occasion player. He scored four at Anfield last season and netted at Old Trafford in August when Arsenal played the home side off the pitch for long periods before crumbling under pressure.
Arshavin gives Arsenal real hope in Sunday's clash and so does Fabregas, who I've never seen play better for the club.
As captain, his current form is inspiring. The passing accuracy and intuitive reading of the game have always been there but this season he is fit enough to bomb forward and score goals, nine so far, and get back to defend. His movement is constant and illusive and Chelsea's holding midfielder will have to be on his toes throughout.
Freedom from injuries is one reason for his purple patch, but the main cause has been the maturing of Alex Song in Arsenal's own anchor 'Makelele' midfield role.
It is understandable why Wenger was keen to get the 22-year-old to sign his new long-term contract. The Cameroon international has become a cornerstone for their style of football and at last they have a replacement for Gilberto Silva.
Song sits in front of his centre-backs breaking up opposition attacks with lithe, well-timed tackling and plays it into the feet of the mercurial players in the more forward positions. Fabregas now has a real licence to get forward because Song is protecting his back.
At 6'1" the Douala-born midfielder has always had the makings of a fine athlete in the Patrick Vieira mould. He's now looking as if he can fill Vieira's boots although that's a mighty big task. Chelsea will find him in their faces on Sunday and it's going to be an abrasive, tough encounter.
Because of their injuries it may look as if it's an Arsenal B-strength side but the Emirates A-Team has other ideas with Arsene Wenger in the old George Peppard role probably reprising one of his favourite "Hannibal" Smith catchphrases: "I love it when a plan comes together".
Jonathan Pearce will be commentating on Arsenal v Chelsea on Sunday for Match of the Day 2.
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