Amid the backdrop of a fierce London derby and the battle for crucial points in the title race, the Premier League’s two top goalscorers will fight for supremacy tomorrow.

There are many quality strikers in the top flight but it is Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez who are leading the way in the standings with 15 goals apiece.

Each has pros and cons in the debate over who is the better marksman but what is not in dispute is that Chelsea and Arsenal rely heavily on them.

Marcel Desailly played against many top strikers and believes it is Sanchez, rather than Costa, who would worry him most if he was still in action.

“I would have preferred to play against Costa because it is a physical battle with him,” explained the former France captain, who spent six years at Stamford Bridge. “He gives a defender a point of reference and needs his team-mates to create the movement for him to grab an opportunity.

“But facing Alexis is terrible. He shows you one direction and when you start to understand and read his movement, he’s away, scoring the goal.

“Sanchez can make the difference himself. He takes up good positions, he can create, he can play the one-twos, dribble, shoot and score. If I was dealing with Costa, I’d be more confident.”

Arsenal legend Robert Pires, a former France team-mate of Desailly’s, agrees that Sanchez is more elusive, although he suggests that playing at Stamford Bridge will give the Chelsea man an advantage.

“I think the biggest danger will be Costa because he is playing at home in front of his own fans,” said Pires. “And when you have that, you play with more energy and strength.

“Sanchez maybe has more ability and is technically more fluent with the ball and, of course, scores goals. Costa scores goals, too, but he loves the physical contact, to fight.”

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Chelsea wins: 3 (Clive Rose/Getty Images) 10/13 Andre Villas-Boas 2011-12



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Chelsea wins: 0 11/13 Roberto Di Matteo 2012-12



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Chelsea wins: 1 GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images 12/13 Rafa Benitez 2012-13



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Chelsea wins: 1 13/13 Antonio Conte 2016-?



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Chelsea wins: 1 Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images 1/13 Arsene Wenger Over nearly 20 years at Arsenal Wenger has faced 11 Chelsea managers, but who has he had the best record against? And which Blues bosses have proven to be his bete noire? Getty Images 2/13 Ruud Gullit 1996-98



Arsenal wins: 4



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Chelsea wins: 0 Phil Cole/Allsport 3/13 Gianluca Vialli 1998-2000



Arsenal wins: 3



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Chelsea wins: 2 4/13 Claudio Ranieri 2000-04



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Chelsea wins: 1 ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images 5/13 Jose Mourinho 2004-07, 2013-15



Arsenal wins: 1



Draws: 8



Chelsea wins: 7 ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images 6/13 Avram Grant 2007-08



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Chelsea wins: 0 8/13 Guus Hiddink 2009-09, 2015-16



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Chelsea wins: 3 AFP/Getty Images 9/13 Carlo Ancelotti 2009-11



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Chelsea wins: 3 (Clive Rose/Getty Images) 10/13 Andre Villas-Boas 2011-12



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Chelsea wins: 0 11/13 Roberto Di Matteo 2012-12



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Chelsea wins: 1 13/13 Antonio Conte 2016-?



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Chelsea wins: 1 Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images

The 28-year-olds have more than just their age in common: their long-term futures in England are uncertain. Sanchez, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona for £30million in 2014, has still not agreed an extension to the contract which expires in the summer of 2018.

Costa, meanwhile, has had periods craving a return to Atletico Madrid, from where he joined Chelsea for £32m three years ago. Only last month, he was tempted by an offer from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian for more than £570,000 a week.

Pires, however, has a warning for them both. “I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season, or in one year or two years,” he said. “But when you have this opportunity to play in the Premier League, you need to stay. You can’t leave because I think it is the best League in the world.

"Sanchez has more ability, is technically more fluent with the ball and scores. Costa scores, too, but he loves the physical contact, to fight" Robert Pires

“I know Alexis Sanchez and he prefers to stay at Arsenal because he knows the club and he has a lot of confidence about the fans and Arsene Wenger. I am still training with Arsenal and there has been no effect on the team. Is it being talked about at the training ground? No.”

There will be no shortage of takers in the next transfer window should Costa and Sanchez consider moving on while flirting with the notion of leaving can help secure a wage rise.

Sanchez wants to match Paul Pogba’s £290,000 a week at Manchester United while Costa would like to double his salary to £300,000 a week.

Desailly has a slightly different note of caution to that of Pires, insisting neither should push their luck.

“There are a lot of other players in the market who you can grab and bring into the system,” he said. “The idea is to keep them first of all. The question has been there a little bit for Costa but all has been washed away.

“If he had left during the season, it would have given a bad signal to the other players. But when you are at Chelsea or Arsenal, you should know you can be replaced.

“But for now, we should all just enjoy having these two players on the field tomorrow. They are vital for the development of Premier League football. It’s great to watch.”

As should be tomorrow’s game, especially with Arsenal under pressure following Tuesday’s defeat by Watford. The Gunners have lost on six of their last seven visits to Chelsea and Pires believes none of the title contenders can afford another reverse.

“I think tomorrow is the last chance, the final for the Premier League, because I think if Chelsea beat Arsenal, it’s finished, it’s done,” he said.

If that turns out to be the case, these two legends still see a small crumb of comfort for Arsenal fans.

“Chelsea will win the League but Sanchez will be the top goalscorer,” Desailly predicted. “I agree with Marcel,” added Pires. “The competition between Costa and Sanchez is very high but I think Sanchez can finish first.”

It may turn out to be the only close race of the season.

Robert Pires and Marcel Desailly were speaking at the TAG Heuer Premier League Pressure Test. TAG Heuer is the first ever Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the Premier League www.tagheuer.com/pressuretest