Chelsea's nightmare: No Falcao, no Drogba, Pep at Arsenal

Chelsea may be in pole position to land Pep Guardiola but Arsenal is the team where the former Barcelona manager could work his magic on.

Arsene Wenger has already provided the foundation for the Guardiola Barcelona magic to be transported to the Emirates.

They even have Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta in midfield.

Guardiola has been linked to Manchester United and of late Manchester City after two top former Barcelona executives were appointed to key positions at Etihad.

City's new chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain were at Barcelona during the glory years.

But Arsenal are dreaming of Guardiola as a successor to Arsene Wenger who is expected to be given a different role at the Emirates next season.

If Guardiola's spurns Roman Abramovich's riches, it would be a nightmare for Chelsea who are desperate to build on their pedigree as European champions.

The good news for Chelsea is Guardiola sees his future at Stamford Bridge, according to an exclusive in the Daily Mail (https://bit.ly/QgqviW).

Chelsea sounded him out soon after he announced taking a sabbatical after winning three La Liga titles and two European Cups in four seasons at the Nou Camp.

Roberto Di Matteo was made to wait more than three weeks after Chelsea's Champions League final win last May before being appointed full-time manager on a two-year deal.

Chelsea, overtaken at the top of the Barclays Premier League by Manchester United on Saturday, are struggling in the defence of their European title and play  Shakhtar Donetsk, who beat them a fortnight ago in the Ukraine, at home on Wednesday.

The signings of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Brazilian midfielder Oscar, has reportedly attracted Guardiola who took Barcelona to another level when they beat Manchester United in the final at Wembley in 2011.

He rejected Chelsea's approaches earlier. Arsenal could do well to cash in on this.

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