2. Laurent Koscielny vs. John Terry
Koscielny and Terry have put in fighting, match-winning performances and have led their respective defences, handling the pressure as their defensive partners – Per Mertesacker and Gary Cahill have undergone spells of ineffectiveness. Both players have taken on opposition attackers with aplomb, have not been afraid to put in tackles or intercept an opposition move and will be expected to execute their respective manager’s plans of blunting all the focal points of the opposition attack. The onus of leading the defence has fallen upon the hard-working Laurent Koscielny, after Thomas Vermaelen’s move to Barcelona, but Arsenal’s defensive displays have not shone through. John Terry has rolled back the years as Jose Mourinho started his second stint at Chelsea, putting in concentrated displays and leading the defence forward, repaying his manager’s faith, as Chelsea have kept 15 clean sheets in 32 matches.