Sidwell keen to seize his chance

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The former Arsenal player would love to hold on to his place to face the Gunners on Sunday, but he knows there is plenty of competition and he will more than likely be back on the bench.

"This is a big opportunity for me - as big as the decision I made to join Chelsea," he said. "I knew it would be difficult to earn a regular place but I also knew it would be down to me to show, when I was given a chance, what I can do."

He added: "That is exactly what the previous manager (Mourinho) told me and it is the same situation with the present one. I'm loving every minute of it."

Sidwell, 24, spent five seasons rebuilding his reputation after being offloaded by Arsenal but having turned down the biggest contract offered by the Royals to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in the summer he has struggled to make an impact.

He gets a chance in tonight's match as Chelsea have already qualified as Group B winners, meaning manager Avram Grant can rest some players ahead of the weekend trip to the Emirates.

"Of course, the Arsenal game is huge - especially now they have dropped points at Middlesbrough, giving us a chance to get level and back in the title race," Sidwell added.

"But playing for a big club is more than about one or two games. You have to show the right attitude when you get your chance - and I'm getting chances here."

Grant has confounded his critics by losing just one match - his first at Manchester United - out of 16 since taking over. He admitted his focus was elsewhere ahead of the Valencia game.

"I can't say the Arsenal game is not the most important one," he said. "But that's because we have done so well in the Champions League earlier. We are in a very good position now."