Lampard back for Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Frank Lampard has recovered sufficiently from a thigh injury to start against Arsenal on Sunday.

The midfielder picked up the problem while on international duty with England and has missed Chelsea's last two games.

The 31-year-old has responded well to placenta treatment in Serbia - an alternative option that seems to be popular among top flight professionals with Liverpool duo Yossi Benayoun and Glen Johnson and Arsenal's Robin van Perise all recently undergoing the procedure.

Ancelotti will be boosted by the news ahead of a game where Chelsea could end the Gunners' title challenge on their home patch.

"Frank is fit, yes," he said. "He trained for the last two days and did very well. He is in good condition.

"He's ready to play. I think that our physio and our doctor worked very well with him. He is a fantastic professional player.

"He stayed to improve his condition for a long time in Cobham. He stayed one hour with the doctor for treatment (in Serbia) and 80 hours - I don't know - in Cobham here to work.

Important
"But it is very important game because Arsenal are one of the most important teams in England and Europe.

"They're playing very well. I like their style - they try to play and attack to create difficulties for the other teams.

"It will be a very good test for us. We want to put the best on the pitch against Arsenal. I think it will a fantastic match because both teams want to play football. All the fans will have a fantastic opportunity to see a good game."

Despite stating the importance of the fixture on Sunday, Ancelotti added that the game would not be decisive in terms of the title.

"This is not a decisive match for Chelsea or Arsenal," he added. "It's an important match. Arsenal will want to win the game, and Chelsea also, but it's not decisive for the title.

"It would be 11 points (the gap between the two teams) if we won, but Arsenal would have a game in hand. It's not so important for the title."


Control
Ancelotti denied that he would be demanding his team send out a message to their title rivals with a win at Emirates Stadium and pointed out that if the Blues are to come away with three points they would have to win the midfield battle.

"This can be a difficult match for us if Arsenal keep control of midfield," he added.

"There is not a big difference between Arsenal and Chelsea in terms of their systems of play. I feel we have players in very good condition.

"I want to rotate in the next few games, like the last games against Wolves and against Porto.

"This is important. Maintaining players in good condition, with good feeling and a good atmosphere, is important."