Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has explained the reasons behind his change in midfield for the Premier League clash against London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday.
The Blues are looking to return to winning ways after suffering defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last time out, against an Arsenal side that have won just once in the league under Mikel Arteta.
Lampard's side enter the game with a 10-point advantage over the Gunners and victory at Stamford Bridge would put the knife into their rivals top-four hopes.
Chelsea made two changes for the London derby, bringing Emerson Palmieri and Mateo Kovacic into the side, and Lampard explained his decision to play the latter ahead of Mason Mount.
"They’re a different type of players. Mason has played a lot, Kovacic has been out of it recently but he's played in a lot of big games for us this season,” he told BT Sport.
"I think midfield areas in games like this are crucial, can we control that area and get a grip on it?
"Then obviously get our wingers into our game and our full-backs."
Victory over the Gunners for the second time in the space of a month won't end Mikel Arteta's side Champions League hopes, according to Lampard.
"I wouldn’t say so, not this season," Lampard said. "I wouldn’t say so. Any team that puts strong runs together, the picture can change very quickly. So no, no.
"We know they are a competitor and some points behind us, but we know that if they beat us that they will feel they can close the gap on us.
"So we know the seriousness of what it is, and that is why it’s not better to look around too much and worry about ourselves.
"It would have been nice to have a gap, because the league is so competitive and so fluid. Sometimes we have had big gaps, sometimes small gaps, sometimes we have been chasing teams ahead of us.
"So of course it is disappointing, particularly when you do control a game like that, but to dwell on that is not something we should do. We have got games coming up thick and fast, important games.
"Our next league games are tough games, important ones with teams around us, so let’s not get too concerned with the gap but concern ourselves game by game and can we get wins."
