Chelsea, who trail their London rivals by four points having played a game more, host Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and they have not yet given up hope of a first English title since their sole 1955 triumph.

The 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Tuesday not only secured Chelsea a place in the last four of the Champions League for the first time, it also extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.

While that may not compare with Arsenal's record 30-match unbeaten streak in the league -- which they can extend to 31 against Liverpool on Friday -- it does indicate that they are hitting form just at the right time to take advantage if Wenger's side slip up again.

"The confidence has been growing in us all season and we are starting to look really good," midfielder Joe Cole said after the win at Highbury.

"We are in great form and want to keep that going. Everyone is as high as a kite. We are still in (the title race) and we are fighting on the European front."

If form is on Chelsea's side on Saturday then so is history. Boro's last victory at Stamford Bridge came 29 years ago.

TEMPTING OFFER

If media speculation can be believed, Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren would have been Chelsea coach under Sven-Goran Eriksson next season, had the England manager succumbed to the temptations offered by the big-spending club.

The Swede, though, was cornered into signing a contract extension with England and it now looks like Claudio Ranieri may still be at the helm in west London beyond the end of the season.

The Italian may again tinker with his line-up for Saturday's match at Stamford Bridge after leaving it unchanged for only the second time this season on Tuesday.

Chelsea also play at Aston Villa on Monday and Ranieri may decide to rest some of the players that have served him so well, most notably England midfielder Frank Lampard whose next match will be his 50th of the season for the club.

Romanian Adrian Mutu and Argentine Hernan Crespo, who scored in Chelsea's 2-1 victory at the Riverside earlier this season, could also get a start up front in place of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Middlesbrough, 11th in the league, have had a decent enough run themselves of late but will be without winger Boudewijn Zenden, who is unavailable under the terms of his loan from Chelsea.

They will also be without England central defender Gareth Southgate, who was ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments in training earlier this week.