Demba Ba: 'Chelsea must keep pressure on Arsenal'

Chelsea striker Demba Ba has called on his teammates to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by winning their next two away games.

The Blues, who are four points behind the Gunners in the table, travel to Sunderland tonight (Wednesday) before they make the trip to Stoke City on Saturday.

Ba believes that it is vital for the team to earn maximum points from their upcoming fixtures if they want to sustain their title challenge.

"When you have two games in a row away from home, like we do, it's very important to pick up six points before we then play at home against Crystal Palace," he told the club's official website.

"It's also important for us to keep the pressure on Arsenal. They have two home games now which they will be expecting to win but we need to be there, and in a good position to take advantage, if they do drop points. We need to stay as close to them as possible."

Chelsea head into tonight's match at the Stadium of Light on the back of Sunday's 3-1 win at home to Southampton.