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London - Whilst it wont ever capture the globes imagination like an el Cl??sico does or possess the historical significance of a Manchester or Merseyside derby, Sunday mornings Chelsea v Arsenal London derby is without doubt today the biggest football battle the capital city possesses. In doing so, the North London derby has been relegated into a distant second place. Over the last decade and more as Chelsea and Arsenal have gained permanent membership of the Barclays Premier Leagues virtuous circle for the elite, Spurs reside amongst its periphery. Earlier in the week, one London newspaper provided a compelling case of why Tottenham should place the greater emphasis on the Europa League ahead of the BPL this season. Its reasoning, even after only six matches, Spurs stood little chance of making it to the Champions League via a top four finish whilst this seasons Europa League winners will be granted an automatic spot. Comfort though can be taken for Spurs supporters from Chelseas 6-0 dismantling of Arsenal in the corresponding fixture last season in a match that signified Arsene Wengers 1,000th in charge for the North Londoners - which he described at the time as not a bad day but a nightmare. Speaking of nightmares, a player who just cant help himself against Arsenal is Didier Drogba. Wenger, who celebrated 18 years at the helm of the Gunners just this past Tuesday, got a gift of sorts from his London neighbour early Friday with Chelsea announcing Drogba wont feature Sunday due to an ankle injury. Not that Wengers team will need any further motivation to make amends for last seasons aberration but adding a further layer of spice to Sundays encounter will be the sight of Cesc F??bregas trotting out of the tunnel in the blue shirt of Chelsea. This is sure to raise a few eyebrows and one or two Anglo-Saxon opinions from the 3,000 strong travelling support. In his pre-match press conference Friday morning, Wenger reignited his war of words with Mourinho by disclosing F??bregas preferred option was to return to the club he joined in late summer 2003 which was in stark contrast to what Mourinho said this summer after the Fabregas signing was announced. With close to $75 million invested in ?–zil, there was no way back for a player who in October 2003 became at 16 years and 177 days the youngest ever to put on the fabled Arsenal shirt in the clubs close to 130-year history. At Mourinhos pre-match press conference, which took place shortly after Wengers, he refused to be drawn on the Fabregas matter nor offer an apology to Wenger for anointing him a Specialist in Failure back on Valentines Day. No love lost between these two managers then. Mourinho did offer Wenger his congratulations on bringing up 18 years of service in North London. Tipping his hat to the remarkable Invincible Arsenal side of 2003/04 which went the whole season undefeated, Mourinho offered an unequivocal, No - when asked if he thought he could emulate such a unique achievement. In terms of whether there was an added intensity surrounding Sundays derby, Mourinho extended another one word response, Yes. The match has been a sell-out since just after the BPL schedule was released back in mid-June. Ticket brokers are a reliable source of what people are willing to pay these days to attend sporting events of this magnitude. The law of the resell market often states the bigger the occasion, the bigger the pay off. Now consider this. An all-inclusive to October 25ths el Cl??sico at the Santiago Bernebeau, including a return flight from London to Madrid plus a match ticket, would set you back less money than brokers are quoting for just a match ticket Sunday. If Frankies Sports Diner located inside Stamford Bridge for Tuesdays Champions League match away to Sporting Lisbon is any indication of how cosmopolitan the crowd will be on Sunday, then you get a clear idea of what helps to influence the market price for tickets. Then of course as Stamford Bridge only holds just north of 40,000, the law of supply and demand has a significant effect as well. Hospitality Packages, something you couldnt give away when I was a very frequent visitor to Stamford Bridge back in the 1980s, are also sold out. These were offered for sale by Chelsea for upwards up ?￡895 [$1,700]. The only option left earlier today was taking a Matchday Dining Package at the sumptuous 4-star hotel that is located inside Stamford Bridge. One of these would set you back ?￡495, throw in a room for the night and you wouldnt be getting much change out of $2,000. With patrons willing to absorb such sums to savour Sundays match, its hardly surprising Chelsea have for the past five years been weighing up all their options regarding the future of Stamford Bridge. Early this week, it was widely reported Chelsea will remain at Stamford Bridge and move into the home of English Rugby, Twickenham for a season whilst Stamford Bridge is upgraded. The magnificent 82,000 capacity stadium located some seven miles along the Thames will host next years Rugby Union World Cup Final. Much more than London bragging rights, and three valuable points in the title chase are at stake Sunday. Having faced a Mourinho-led Chelsea team 11 times previously, Wenger is still to savour the taste of victory. Diego Costa, who has been an absolute revelation since his summer move from the Spanish capital, needs two goals to make it into Chelsea folklore and emulate club legend, Jack Cock, who took just seven games to hit the 10 league goal mark back in 1919/20. I have a sneaking suspicion as well, Mourinho who prides heritage and tradition above much else, and no matter what the outcome on the pitch, will invite his opposite number into his office post-match to share a bottle of red wine, much like he did so often with the BPLs vintage man himself, Sir Alex Ferguson. Key is will they be drinking a 12-year old bottle of wine to reflect a 12th straight winless game for Wenger or will it be 18-years old to signify the 64-year old Frenchmans loyal Arsenal service? Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Saints Jerseys ." One game is checked off, 15 remain and the next one to get crossed out could come Tuesday night when the defending champion Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. TreQuan Smith Saints Jersey . Brazilian striker Brandao opened the scoring with a header in the 55th minute before winger Franck Tabanou volleyed home from close range to double the lead in the 61st. http://www.officialsaintslockroom.com/je...-saints-jersey/. Kadri was dressed in a green jersey at Thursdays practice and skated as an extra forward on the teams fourth line as the Leafs. DeMario Davis Jersey .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. DeMario Davis Saints Jersey . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing.NEWARK, N.J. - John Tavares forced overtime with a goal moments after a power play expired, and then scored unassisted with 1:55 left in the extra period to lead the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.Josh Bailey got the other goal for New York and Jaroslav Halak made 21 saves as the Islanders snapped a two-game losing streak and beat the Devils for the third time in as many games this season.Scott Gomez and Travis Zajac scored for the Devils. Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves for New Jersey, which lost for the second time in as many nights.Tavares stole the puck from a falling Adam Larsson near the corner behind the Devils net, quickly turned and roared into the right circle, snapping a shot over the shoulder of Kinkaid.LIGHTNING 2, SABRES 1TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Steven Stamkos scored his 22nd goal to break a third-period tie and the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning beat the stumbling Buffalo Sabres.Stamkos took a pass from Jonathan Drouin during a 2-on-1 and lifted a shot with 5:18 to play over Michal Neuvirth, who was under siege the final two periods and finished with 45 saves.Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Lightning, who have won seven of eight.The Sabres, losers of seven in a row, got a goal from Cody McCormick. Buffalo has scored eight goals during the skid.MAPLE LEAFS 5, BLUE JACKETS 2TORONTO (AP) — James van Riemsdyk scored two goals and added an assist, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Columbus Blue Jackets.The win was the Maple Leafs first in two games under interim coach Peter Horachek, who took over for the fired Randy Carlyle.Tyler Bozak, Daniel Winnik and Phil Kesssel added goals for Toronto, and Jonathan Bernier made 18 saves.ddddddddddddRyan Johansen scored twice for the Blue Jackets, who were held to just 20 shots — the second-fewest allowed this season by the Maple Leafs, who gave up only 10 to Buffalo in a 4-0 win on Oct. 28.Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves after signing a $29.7-million, four-year extension earlier in the day.PANTHERS 6, FLAMES 5CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Thomas Fleischmann scored with 3:09 left in the third period to lead the Florida Panthers to a wild win over the Calgary Flames.Fleischmann lifted a backhander over both Calgary defenceman Kris Russell and goalie Jonas Hiller for the winning goal just 45 seconds after Matt Stajan scored his second of the game for the Flames.Fleischman, Jonathan Huberdeau, Brad Boyes and Sean Bergenheim all finished with a goal and an assist for the Panthers. Jimmy Hayes and Brian Campbell also scored for Florida, while David Bolland had two assists.Stajan and T.J. Brodie each scored twice for the Flames, who lost their third straight to finish a six-game homestand at 3-3.OILERS 5, BLACKHAWKS 2EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Derek Roy had a goal and two assists to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.Benoit Pouliot, Jeff Petry, Nail Yakupov and Taylor Hall also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-1-2 under interim coach Todd Nelson since he took over sole coaching responsibilities when general manager Craig MacTavish moved back upstairs from the bench.The Oilers had lost 20 of their previous 21 games before the recent surge.Brandon Saad had a pair of goals for the Blackhawks, who have lost two of their last three. 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