England manager Fabio Capello sacked Terry as national team skipper on Friday following a week of furore over the defender's alleged affair with his former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.

Terry, 29, paid the price for his actions because Capello wants to keep Bridge involved in his England plans ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Burnley and Hull fans have already taunted Terry since news of his alleged affair with Perroncel first surfaced and the former England captain can expect more of the same from Arsenal supporters on Sunday afternoon.

But Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti remains solidly behind his captain, although the Italian realises that no player is, or can be allowed to become, bigger than one club.

That is why victory over Arsene Wenger's side will be of paramount importance to Ancelotti, certainly more so than Terry's welfare at the hands of Arsenal fans.

Ancelotti refused to consider dropping Terry from the side to face the Gunners and insists the defender has shown total professionalism during a week when the player's private life became front page news.

Terry, according to Ancelotti, has the backing of his Stamford Bridge team-mates but even they know that victory over Arsenal is more vital than soothing the defender's bruised and battered ego.

Terry's regular defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho said: "We have to win on Sunday.

"Our challenge is to stay top until the end of the season and not have bad results at home.

"Arsenal have suffered many physical problems in attack but we've also had difficulties. We must score a goal early, pressure Arsenal and to win the title we must win games like these.

"Now is the moment to show Chelsea deserve to be champions. The title is in our hands."

Brazilian defender Alex knows all about pressure when the title race starts to get tighter.

He won the Dutch title in his final season at PSV Eindhoven and it could not have been closer.

His club finished level on points with Ajax and won the title by just one goal on goal difference. But Alex insists that pressure acts as vital motivation in such circumstances.

"The pressure is good when it is close," said Alex.

"It means you have to start each game mentally good to play.

"We play better against Arsenal at the Emirates but now we play at home and we have to win.

"Stamford Bridge is very tight. Arsenal play the same home and away but for us it is more difficult when we play against a team on a small pitch. It means that the first 15 minutes is going to be very important in this game."

Chelsea must avoid the same set-piece problems that allowed Hull to take the lead in a 1-1 draw last Tuesday and which gifted Sunderland a consolation goal at the end of their 7-2 home win last month.

Alex believes the key to avoiding more set-piece horrors against Arsenal is down to communication and the fact Arsenal have fewer physically imposing players than struggling Hull.

"We have to speak more to each other and mark closer," suggest Alex.

"But it is difficult to defend set-pieces against a team like Hull because they have many tall players.

"Also the opposition team can make it difficult if the ball is delivered all the time between the defence and the goalkeeper.

"Arsenal may not have as many tall players as Hull but against them we have to stay compact."