Chelsea should shade clash of the economic titans

If you hear a loud clinking sound in Manchester on Saturday evening that will be sound of the moneybags of Manchester City and Chelsea clashing in the late Premier League fixture at Eastlands. Mark Hughes' team are aping the example set by their more illustrious southern rivals a few years ago, spending huge sums without batting an eyelid to assemble a glittering array of talent.

The problem is, as fellow big-spenders Real Madrid are finding, bringing together a collection of outrageous talents in one team is not the same as developing a great team through managerial skills. Whether Hughes has yet attained the ability to make a side featuring such irresistible attacking talents as Robinho, Carlos Tevez, Craig Bellamy, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz remains to be seen.

His counterpart tomorrow, Carlo Ancelotti, does have the team-building knack, having steered AC Milan to one Serie A title and two Champions Leagues, and his Chelsea steamroller is crushing the life out of its Premier League rivals. The 3-0 thumping of Arsenal last weekend will be more a guide of what to expect, and there will be some wounded pride to avenge in the wake of Wednesday night's defeat on penalties to Blackburn in the Carling Cup.

City themselves took apart a virtual Arsenal reserves side the same night to reach their first cup semi final for decades, so will be buoyant that maybe their recent lethargy - seven consecutive draws, a Premier League record - can be shaken off, but Chelsea will be too strong and relentless for the fragile defence of the hosts.

Arsenal desperately need to get their season back on track after three defeats in four games since the return from the international break. Everything had been going so swimmingly for Arsene Wenger: they were on a 13-match unbeaten run and were scoring goals for fun, knocking in more than 50 in all competitions. But then Robin van Persie was injured in a meaningless friendly and the sky caved in.

They're now winless and goalless in three domestic ties, having lost to Sunderland and Chelsea in the league and essentially seen any chance of silverware from that quarter disappear. Wenger has been forced to admit that the club must buy in the transfer window, usually anathema to the astute Frenchman who sees little value to be had in such a sellers' market.

To cap it all, they're up against Stoke, one of the no-nonsense Northern sides that have tormented the Emirates aristocrats in the past. And with Theo Walcott injured again, Tony Pulis will be fancying a shock away victory. Arsenal should prove too strong, and an emphatic win will cure the Winter wobbles in north London.

The champions Manchester United have what ought to be a relatively easy trip to Upton Park to take on West Ham. The Hammers may have won 5-3 against Burnley last week, but their brittleness - all three away goals came after the home side had gone 5-0 up - suggests that a tight performance from Alex Ferguson's team could see a hearty victory. Wayne Rooney will fancy adding to last week's hat-trick against a defence that have already conceded 26 goals this campaign.

Rafa Benitez claimed that last Sunday's derby win over Everton could turn his team's nightmare season around. there'll be no better place to put this to the test than at Ewood Park tomorrow, where the combative Blackburn, flush from their Carling Cup victory over Chelsea, won't give the Merseysiders an inch. Fernando Torres could return for the visitors, although given the uncompromising nature of some of Rovers' football his full return could more profitably be put off another week rather than risk his groin in a crunching encounter.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa face a resurgent Hull at home. Martin O'Neill's men should be too canny for the Tigers, who are unbeaten in four Premier League games. Burnley travel to Portsmouth looking for their first away win of the season and will find they couldn't have arrived at a better time. Pompey's new owners have failed to pay the players' wages again and soon even the managerial skills of Avram Grant and fierce local support won't turn around this poor, car-crash club.

Wigan versus Birmingham will see the enigmatic Latics take on a form side - the Blues are unbeaten in five games - so judging from their topsy turvy season to date, they ought to walk it. Meanwhile at the Molineux what looks like being a relegation scrap already threatens between Wolves and Bolton. The Trotters fought their way to a wildly undeserved draw at Fulham last week, but could have too much backbone for Mick McCarthy's curiously complacent side.

Sunday sees the Europa League survivors in action, with Fulham hosting Sunderland and Spurs travelling to Everton. Fulham's win over CSKA Sofia last night keeps them in with a shout of qualifying for the next stage of European football, a mixed blessing for manager Roy Hodgson who is struggling to put together squads with the injuries the Cottagers are incurring. Sunderland could prove too strong, although their defeat to Wigan last weekend will have angered boss Steve Bruce.

Everton have already got through in Europe courtesy of a win on Wednesday night, however with Harry Redknapp's Spurs in dangerous form the Goodison Park defence - which has already shipped five goals against Benfica - will have to be on its best form to put the shackles on Jermain Defoe and co. ·