Blue is the Colour rings out... we're off folks.

Image source, .

As of this morning, Chelsea have spent 77 days in total as league leaders. They surpassed Manchester City's mark of 75 on Friday.

Consistency to be rewarded? Or will we end the season and look back on a chance wasted? There's a ruthlessness about them right now which someone has to front up and smash through.

Is this Jools Holland reading the Chelsea team out? 

If not, we have an impressionist at the Bridge. He sounds exactly like him. 

Doesn't Jools only work on 31 December?

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Radio 5 live

Do Arsenal really have the mental resolve to push on and really have a go at the title?

When they won their titles they had leaders, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira.

For them to not have the strength to win a match against Watford at home, I think that is unbelievably damning.

They emerge, a huge Frank Lampard banner is presented behind one goal. The retired midfielder emblazoned across it with his arms aloft.

Petr Cech - headguard on for a Six Nations run out later - stands next to Thibaut Courtois, a handshake of acknowledgement.

Out in the arena Blur's Parklife plays out loudly. Here comes Gary Cahill, small bottle of water in hand. The two Chelsea mascots look up at him like he's a king.

"COME ON LADS EH COME ON," he mutters as the players begin their walk.

"VAMOS, VAMOS," comes from somewhere at the back of the line.

Image source, .

Hats off to Antonio Conte. He's a dab hand at this formation stuff. Back when his side were hammered at Arsenal in September they looked short of ideas.

Their back four was binned. It was time for something fresh - a back three playing with all the style of a well-fitted Italian suit. 

Tapered in the right places, minus the Donald Trump shoulder pads, things got slick.

They have fallen to just one league defeat in 17 since. It turns out formations are important.

Neil Leverett: Alex Iwobi is again the key to Arsenal victory today. Or should I say, not losing...

Michael Owuor: I fear for Arsenal CM pairing of Ox-Coq. Against Hazard, Pedro, Costa? Dont think so but may be dead wrong

Bishop Yinkus: After messing up against Watford, I'm just going to enjoying the match as an outsider knowing fully well that title is gone

We've just been treated to a look around the changing rooms. The home versus away comforts are very visible.

Chelsea's space sees every player have their name on a posh metal placard above where they sit. Each seat is like a pod, with shorts and shirts neatly laid out on the seat, flip flops on the floor in front.

Then a switch to the away dressing room and while it's not exactly the glorified hut you get at Sunday League, it's far more basic. Pegs mounted on wood for the shirts to hang on, a lot more cramped, a lot less flash.

The mind games and warfare start way before kick-off folks.

The players are now in the changing rooms. Speaking of changing rooms...

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Radio 5 live

Everyone says that you’ve got to score goals to win the league, and yes you have. You have to be first or second best goal-scorers in the league.

But you also have to be first or second in terms of defence. It’s a cliché, but strikers win you games, defenders win you championships. 

I’ve been very impressed with Conte and Chelsea.

"Good afternoon and welcome to the top of the league," says the stadium announcer.

He spent all week working on that. 

Image source, .

A reminder in the event you need it, a win here would send Chelsea 12 points clear of Arsenal. Spurs are nine points adrift of the Blues and play later.

Countless pundits - Robert Pires among them - said this week that defeat here ends Arsenal's title hopes.

Image source, .

Chelsea arrived on a bus with the slogan 'CHELSEA WILL BE HEARD' running down the side. They'll be hoping their fans are today. Home advantage on days like this can be so key. I did see a stat yesterday though which said Arsenal have 71 points on the road since the start of 2015, no side has more.

Diego Costa bounced off the bus with a nonchalant wave to some fans in close proximity. I do like him in many ways, he's like some sort of late entry to a Royal Rumble, you just don't know what's coming. Genius, madness, anarchy, he's one of those characters whose blood seems to rest a fraction below boiling point every second of the day.

But why all the anger? On Friday he posted an Instagram message containing an expletive. It was directed at someone or something but who or what exactly, we don't know. You're wondering what it said right? 

There's an emoji for it, but you will not be finding it here.

John Murray and the 5 live team look ahead to this afternoon's big game. Get involved...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stamford Bridge

Both teams out warming up for this crucial Premier League game - and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is well aware of the psychological blow his team can strike today.

The Italian was delighted with the point Chelsea took away from Liverpool on Tuesday and he will feel he can take Arsenal right out of the title equation with victory today.

Image source, Getty Images

The teams are warming up, Theo Walcott has one of those stretchy bands wrapped around his ankles and he's working those glutes. Get them firing young man.

Hector Bellerin's thick and somewhat floppy hairstyle stays perfectly in place as he dashes around. Cesc Fabregas is out there in a woolly hat. He's on the bench today so there's plenty of time to show a lot of love to some of his old team-mates. A high-five here and there, Cesc is more popular than the ice cream man on a sunny day.

Yes, Theo, yes my son.

Forget the death of the Arsenal title race, instil belief and show there's life in this run-in yet.

Mr Walcott is stretching in a huddle with his team-mates and he says: "First [expletive] tackle lads yeah, first one, win it."

Forget what I said in that last entry. Someone call Antonio Conte and tell him it's on.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks Neil, top navigation of the critical early stages of the most important day of the week.

So...roll up, roll up, it's that day of the calendar where Arsenal's title hopes end, radio phone ins become a frenzy of anti-Wenger sentiment, the clouds converge to spell 'Wenger Out' in the sky and some pundit, somewhere will utter the words "they've never replaced Vieira".

Roll up, roll up.

Half an hour to kick-off at Stamford Bridge - time for me to hand over to my colleague Luke Reddy who will take you through Chelsea against Arsenal.

Will Antonio Conte's side move 12 points clear at the top? Will Arsenal's season all but end at Stamford Bridge? 

We're about to find out.