Chelsea’s rock-solid spine makes case for invincibility arguable

Had Arsene Wenger been able to call upon his famous Premier League ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/04 for Arsenal’s recent trip to Stamford Bridge, there surely would have been no cause for pushing and shoving the opposition manager.

As it was, the Frenchman’s unusual lack of self restraint was both in response to his current side’s deficiencies ,which saw them lose 2-0 on the day, and in no small part down to the goading he has received from Jose Mourinho in recent times.

Having ended any hopes of Arsenal repeating that incredible unbeaten league campaign following victory in west London, instead it’s Chelsea who remain the only possible candidates to replicate their amazing feat.

Chelsea’s draw at Manchester City remains their only pair of dropped points from the first 21 available and this has prompted Ladbrokes to offer an intriguing price of 12/1 that Mourinho can match Wenger’s greatest achievement in English football to date.

Can Chelsea really remain invincible though? Well, the early evidence is that the fusion Mourinho couldn’t quite master last season has now been completed to ominous effect with some shrewd summer editions.

A spine which was hardly in need of major surgery has now taken on a cast-iron rigidity.

Two of the world’s best goalkeepers now vie for the gloves, by far the tightest back-four of last season has been added to and Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa’s additions speak for themselves after seven games.

At this stage of the 03/04 campaign Arsenal had conceded one less goal than the current Chelsea crop, but with arguably a weaker defence.

Not many would opt to take Lens Lehman over either Petr Cech or Thibaut Courtois, while even Kolo Toure in his pomp would not make many teams ahead of John Terry and Gary Cahill.

Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole are hard to argue with, but then Branislav Ivanovic would trump Lauren in many a book too.

In the end much of it will come down to team spirit, which Arsenal circa ‘03/04 had in abundance, but Chelsea a’la 2014/15 appear to be built on more concrete foundations.

Perhaps it’s too early to tell, though it’s difficult to pick a Premier League side which could defeat the Blues on present form.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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