LONDON -- Guus Hiddink admits that Chelsea are not direct rivals with Arsenal this season as the struggling Premier League champions prepare to take on the league leaders at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea's title defence crumbled before Christmas with just four victories in their first 16 Premier League matches.
The Blues' run of poor results culminated in Jose Mourinho leaving Stamford Bridge for the second time last month, amid what technical director Michael Emenalo described as a "palpable discord" which had developed between the manager and his players.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are mounting their most promising title challenge in years, boosted by the arrival of Chelsea legend Petr Cech last summer -- though Arsene Wenger's men fell to one of their four Premier League defeats of the season when they visited Stamford Bridge in September.
Arsene Wenger said on Thursday that Chelsea will pose the same tough challenge to the Gunners even without Mourinho, telling reporters: "More than the manager it's the characteristics of the players that is dominant, and those are the same players."
Chelsea interim boss Hiddink is optimistic that his side can repeat that feat at the Emirates on Sunday, but admits the Blues' plight contrasted with the Arsenal's title chase has dulled the traditional rivalry between London's two most successful clubs.
Asked if Arsenal are still considered rivals at Stamford Bridge, Hiddink replied: "Not at this moment. Arsenal are doing very well, making a good bet for first position, and Chelsea are way down under. That is reality.
"I'm confident that the team on Sunday will give their upmost to get the results that have been achieved in the recent past, but of course it might be a little different.
"We don't talk much about [relegation] but if you see the statistics and you're closer to that line than the line where you are in the Champions League positions, that's the fact. I'm not a person to deny the facts. It doesn't mean we're looking down -- we have to look up.
"So far we are unbeaten but we cannot be fully satisfied with our results. Being unbeaten means we have to make the next step and not to drop back into inconsistency.
"The players are working with a lot of ambition and confidence and I think we will see another very attractive game on Sunday."