Gunners need to tighten up as Blues plan attack

The Gunners went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday.

However, it was anything but a convincing rearguard display from Wenger's men, who are without injured centre-back Thomas Vermaelen until the New Year.

Arsenal have been criticised for an apparent soft backline this season, which saw them beaten in their last two Champions League away games to leave qualification for the knockout stage dependant on beating Group H whipping Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium tonight.

Arshavin, who has six goals so far, believes the Gunners need to tighten up if they are to push on and have a successful campaign.

"We struggle all the time in defence. We have to score more than we concede. That's it," said the Russian.

"It is very frustrating. We are trying to improve, but we can't.

"We don't just blame our defenders. It doesn't always depend on defenders. As a team we need to improve defensively."

Arshavin believes while Arsenal have blown their chances of finishing top of the group to secure seeding for the knockout stage, the Gunners should not fear anybody.

"I think we have no chance of topping the group," he said.

"It is disappointing, but we always knew Shakhtar and Braga were good teams, especially at home. Unfortunately they showed that against us.

"We will get a difficult draw, but Arsenal want to win the Champions League and if you want to win it you have to play the best teams, like Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"It doesn't matter if it's in the last 16, quarter-finals or semi-finals."

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has demanded that his side turn on the style against Marseille in their final Group F game tonight.

Chelsea, suffering a mid-season slump that has seen them win just one game out of the last six in the Premier League, have been ordered to return to the free-flowing football that excited everyone when the new campaign began.

Ancelotti was clearly angered and upset by Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Everton last Saturday and told his players so in a team meeting.

The Italian coach made it clear he wants them to go back to the style of football which brought them a flood of goals and five straight wins at the start of the Premier League campaign.

"We are trying to search the right way to move on quickly from this moment and we have a possibility to do this (against Marseille)," said Ancelotti. "The result of the game is not important but the performance is very important. We consider the game important for our confidence and to come back and play our football."