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Chelsea’s performances of late – four straight wins – and their refusal to let Arsenal and Man United open up a gap at the top, are all the more incredible when you consider the players they have been without. Could either Sir Alex Ferguson’s men or Arsene Wenger’s side have maintained such a run of form without arguably four of their top players?

Well, we know the answer to that. When the Gunners lost the nucleus of their midfield they struggled badly, going down at Middlesbrough and drawing at Newcastle. Those results handed top spot to their rivals.

‘It says a lot for the Blues' resilience, as well as the quality of their squad, that the Stamford Bridge outfit are still on the fringes of the title race.’


Man United’s blip in form inevitably coincided with missing key players, be they Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney. However, Avram Grant has had to cope without the likes of John Terry (out for the last six weeks), Frank Lampard (missed the last six matches), Didier Drogba (only played one league game since November) and Michael Essien (left for the African Nations Cup and hasn’t played in the last four league or cup matches).

Now these four are quite possibly the most important players at Grant’s disposal, and it says a lot for the Blues' resilience, as well as the quality of their squad, that the Stamford Bridge outfit are still on the fringes of the title race.

Recent results show that Chelsea have a stronger squad than their title rivals from the Emirates or Old Trafford. Having so many high-class players is beginning to pay off for Roman Abramovich. The flip side to building such a huge array of talent is that, sooner or later, top quality players will get tired of sitting on the bench. Only now, with injuries, form and the African Nations Cup to contend with, do Chelsea reap the benefit of such a costly squad.

I don’t think that Grant has got nearly enough credit for his part in Chelsea’s fortunes. Yes, he is ludicrously under-qualified, but his stats as boss say it all – 27 games in charge, 20 wins under his belt and defeats only coming away at the top two. It is a record of which any other club manager would be envious. Sure, a great deal of his achievement can be laid at Jose Mourinho’s door, but with new players starting to arrive – and no doubt leave – in the transfer window we will see just what the boss has to offer.

The signing of Nicolas Anelka is a good move and the kind of purchase that keeps the former two-time Premier League champions in with a shout of upsetting the odds and beating United and Arsenal to the title.

It seems that the remaining battles between the top three may well prove crucial. Chelsea have home advantage against not just Arsenal and Man United, but also Liverpool, who still harbour faint aspirations of their first title since 1990.

Perhaps the wise money is on a Blues title and given their ability to cope without their major stars and their willingness to play as a team, who would bet against them?