Despite constant crisis, players still prefer to join Chelsea over Arsenal, claim Michael Owen and Joe Cole

The London pair are locked on 50 points in the Premier League and are scrapping for the fourth Champions League place with Manchester United.

Both Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery are under pressure after a tough start to 2019, though the Blues have reached the Carabao Cup final.

They also bounced back from their worst loss for 28 years at Manchester City by beating Malmo 2-1 in their Europa League last-32 first leg on Thursday.

Arsenal meanwhile suffered an embarrassing defeat to BATE Borisov in Belarus.

Comparing the situation at both clubs on BT Sport, Owen and Cole were unanimous over who they would join given the option.


Former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Owen said: "Chelsea and Arsenal are virtually mirror image.

"They're on the same points in the Premier League, on the same goal difference in the Premier League, and in the same round of the Europa League.

"It's pretty much a level playing field, but which team would you prefer to play for?

"Which team do you look at and go, wow what player, good team?

"Everyone says Chelsea are under a big cloud, but I’d prefer Chelsea every day of the week over Arsenal."

Cole, who has re-joined Chelsea as an academy coach after seven years at the club as a player, added: "Because the expectation in that they (Chelsea) have always got to be there (challenging for trophies), which Chelsea have been for the last 20 years, it becomes a crisis quicker than it does at Arsenal.

"With Arsenal, they’re probably not going to win anything, they’re in a 10-year transitional period.

"Chelsea demand to win things.

"If you’re a player, you’d much rather move to Chelsea than Arsenal, there’s a better quality of player there and you’ve got more chance of winning things."

Despite being closely matched in this year's table as Sarri and Emery embark on building a dynasty, the pair's recent history highlights the chasm between the capital rivals.

Chelsea have won more major trophies, reached more major cup finals and have a higher Premier League win percentage in the last 10 years than Arsenal.

Furthermore, their record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined for £71.6million, outstrips the Gunners' biggest purchase Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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