Drogba celebrates with Lampard as Chelsea run riot at the
Emirates Stadium
The Blues superstar believes the Premier League leaders
know how to turn it on when it really matters. When the chips are
down Chelsea's big names deliver. That is why they are five points
clear of Manchester United at the top of the table. And that is how
they cut Arsenal to pieces in the Gunners' own back yard on Sunday
to leave them 11 points behind.
Drogba, 31, was quick to pile the pressure on
Manchester United and the rest of the chasing pack following
Chelsea's fifth successive League win. He said: "I think we have
the team to stay ahead of all the others.
"Yes, it's not enough to be five points clear. It's a
good gap but we have to keep winning our games. "But you know when
you're top of the League it's good because you only concentrate on
yourself. There's no teams on top of you.
"They have to chase you, they have to produce more and
have to do more to win games. So it's good for us."
Carlo Ancelotti's Blues proved they are stronger than
the Gunners both physically AND mentally and it is
the way they exposed Arsenal's vulnerable underbelly that will hurt
the North Londoners most.
Drogba has now scored nine times in 10 games against
Arsene Wenger's side, but the Ivory Coast superstar insisted that
Arsenal are not scared of him. Yet his assessment of what created
such a gulf in class between the two teams will trouble
Arsenal.
Drogba said: "No, no, no, they're not scared of me
because they play their game. But I think we were strong. "We were
stronger than them. "Every time we had the chance to score we did
it. We took our chances and I think physically we defended well.
"We were really strong mentally as well.
"I don't know about Arsenal, but our strength is that
we are able to switch it on when it mattered. Even against
Manchester United, when the game was really difficult, we won
it.
"We know how to go through difficult periods, difficult
times. "When the game is hard, we know that when you get a chance
it's important to score."
Gunners boss Wenger amazingly claimed Drogba did not do
much during Sunday's derby showdown. Well, the Frenchman was right
apart from...an awesome display and two magnificent goals.
The result extended Chelsea's astonishing run in London
derbies to eight successive wins, in which they have conceded just
three goals.
Meanwhile Frank Lampard hailed Ashley Cole's
performance and insisted the England left-back rammed the abuse he
received down the throats of his Arsenal tormentors.
The boo-boys let 'Cashley' have it throughout the game
at the Emirates - as they cannot forget or forgive the way he left
Arsenal to join Chelsea in 2006. Yet Cole responded with two
crosses that led to Chelsea's first two goals and killed off the
tie as a contest.