Chelsea's Anelka will hand back penalty-taking duties to Drogba for tonight's clash against Arsenal
Chelsea's Anelka will hand back penalty-taking duties to Drogba for tonight's clash against ArsenalNicolas Anelka will hand back the penalty taking duties to partner Didier Drogba as Chelsea look to overcome title rivals Arsenal in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge today.
Anelka has scored two spot-kicks, one against Newcastle in the Carling Cup and one against Marseille in the Champions League in the absence of both Frank Lampard and Drogba.
But Anelka insists that he has no ambition to takeover the role from first-choice penalty-taker Lampard, currently out injured.
"When Didier is not there and Frank is not there then maybe it is going to be me again," said Anelka.
"But if Didier is there then he is going to take itu00a0-- but I did my job when I took them."
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| Didier Drogba takes a penalty for Chelsea |
Arsenal will be without their captain Cesc Fabregas with a hamstring injury along Manuel Almunia (elbow), Kieran Gibbs (calf ), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Aaron Ramsey (leg), Theo Walcott (ankle) and Robin van Persie (ankle).
That will increase the chances of Drogba adding to his tally of 12 goals against Arsenal in just 10 starts.
The Ivory Coast hitman always shines against the Gunners but Anelka says Drogba doesn't raise his game just because it is their London rivals.
"Didier is just the same as before other games when we play Arsenal," said Anelka. "But I think he likes to play against them and of course he likes to score against them.
"To score against a big team is always good for a striker and it is good for Chelsea. I hope it will be the same this weekend."
Important
Meanwhile captain John Terry says it is important that Chelsea earn three points irrespective of the way they play against the Gunners.
Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the season against Manchester City last weekend but remain top of the table by three points after Manchester United failed to beat Bolton and West Brom defeated the Gunners at the Emirates.
Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League away matches and Terry is hungry for more goals himself after opening his season's account in the 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille in midweek.
"It was good to get back on the scoresheet," declared Terry. "I've not scored at the Shed End of the stadium for a long time.
"I scored my first league goal back at the old Highbury but since they have moved stadiums I've not scored against them there or at the Bridge.
"It would be nice to get underway against them again and it is a massive game coming after the Man City defeat."
