Victory Over Hull City & Arsenal Will Ensure Gunners Challenge Only For 3rd Place - Chelsea Boss Ancelotti

"It is a big gap," Ancelotti is quoted as saying by The Times Online. "If we win this game [Hull City], we then have the possibility to win against them [Arsenal] on Sunday.

"If this happens then Arsenal has to run for third place.

"It is a good moment," the Italian coach added. "We’re playing really well, there is confidence in our play and I am happy with this because now is a very important part of the season.

"We will soon be starting the Champions League again so it is important to stay top of the league."

Arsenal midfielder Francesc Fabregas recently stressed the importance of the Chelsea trip. Following the United upset, the Spanish playmaking midfielder, who has been a relentless goalscoring and goal-creating outlet this season, called on the north Londoners to display bouncebackability.

He is reported by Goal.com UK to have told his club's official website: "We have to bounce back straight away. We know we have two massive games against Chelsea away and Liverpool at home so it is going to be difficult, definitely. No-one said it is going to be easy. We just have to be strong and see what happens next week."

Agreeing with Ancelotti's assertion, he stressed: "We have to beat them to stay in the title race."