In many ways, Arsene Wenger is the perfect prey for Jose Mourinho - tactically speaking.
A leader that prefers possession football and taking the game to the opposition, the Arsenal manager can be vulnerable to Mourinho teams which have often favoured counter-attacks, physicality and defensive organisation.
Tonight, Wenger will hope to end his winless run against his rival. In eight games between Arsenal and Chelsea during Mourinho's first spell with the Blues, the Gunners failed to win. Chelsea won four of those games.
However, Arsenal will meet a different Chelsea from the one that featured nemesis Didier Drogba.
Mourinho will make plenty of changes for this game, given that he made much noise about the fact that the Blues only have two days rest before this fixture.
All of the players who started against Manchester City will be given the evening off assuming the Portuguese boss sticks to his word.
That means David Luiz, Juan Mata, Samuel Eto'o, Demba Ba, Kevin De Bruyne, Michael Essien and Cesar Azpiliceuta are all in contention to start.
Meanwhile Wenger will need to decide how many of his star names will be fielded with tough challenges coming up in November.
But definitely out are Mathieu Flamini, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski who are all injured, while Mikel Arteta is serving a one-match suspension for his sending off against Crystal Palace.
Like Chelsea, the Gunners' second string is still quite strong and the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal are all likely starters. Fan favourite (in his own head) Nicklas Bendtner started in the last round against West Brom and may well come in for Olivier Giroud.
In terms of who needs the win most, the pressure will be on Arsenal given that they are still in the midst of an eight year trophyless run, although Mourinho has also spoken about the importance of doing well in this competition.
There is also a question of pride, thanks to the bad blood that has existed between the managers in the past (Mourinho claims recent meetings between the pair have been cordial). From calling Wenger a "voyeur" to the Frenchman snubbing a Christmas card from his rival, some much needed needle might add a competitive edge to proceedings at the Emirates tonight.
