Parker will pounce on the Gunners

Scott Parker has questioned whether Arsenal are "cracking" following their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.

The midfielder was Chelsea's outstanding player in Saturday's victory over Tottenham and is confident they can take advantage of Arsenal's Cup exit in their Champions League quarter-final second leg clash tomorrow night.

Chelsea have not beaten the Gunners for 17 games but Parker said: "Arsenal are a very strong team but who knows how it will affect them now? They might crack a little bit and we're waiting to pounce.

"They haven't lost a lot of games but who is to know how they will react? That is the main test for them now. I believe records have to end sometime and when we've played Arsenal there seems to have been a steady progression each time. We did very well in the first leg and can take a lot from that performance.

"Arsenal have lost the semi-final, have some hard games coming up and it will be tough for them. It helps us that we're the underdogs. That helps a lot."

But Arsene Wenger has already dismissed comments from Sir Alex Ferguson that he would not back the Gunners to beat Chelsea. Wenger said: "For a long time we have not listened to what he says."