Arsenal vs Chelsea (k.o 12:45)

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Auvers

Drogba out with a knee injury

Paully D

Draw, IMO.

Nice prices available depending on what you think. Arsenal 11/10, Chelsea 13/5 and the draw 23/10.

cson

Wow Drogba actually hurt himself from all the rolling around?

Can't see Arsenal winning this, Arteta is a huge loss. Draw or Chelsea tbh.

iainconlon12

Hoping for an Arsenal win but I'd say it'll be a very tight game.

KeithAFC

Must not lose for Arsenal tbh.

cgpg5

What's the craic with Drogba for Barca game?

Blatter

cgpg5 wrote: »

What's the craic with Drogba for Barca game?

Injury will be assessed over the weekend, doesn't sound overly serious, he wasn't going to play the Arsenal game anyway.

Arsenal should win this as 3 big games in 6 days should be too much for Chelsea even with 3 or 4 changes, and Arsenal are at home.

cgpg5

Blatter wrote: »

Injury will be assessed over the weekend, doesn't sound overly serious, he wasn't going to play the Arsenal game anyway.

Arsenal should win this as 3 big games in 6 days should be too much for Chelsea even with 3 or 4 changes, and Arsenal are at home.

Good stuff, I hope for Chelsea's sake he's fit for it

willmunny1990

Expect us to make a few changes for this.

I'd take a draw, away to Arsenal is going to be tough and we'll have an eye on Tuesday.

Caveman1

I think chelsea will win this depending on the team they put, gonna wait to see the team sheet and if Chelsea put out a strong team I'll be putting a few bob on them, those prices are pretty good

Barr

Chelsea could throw out a second tier team for this.

thorbarry

Barr wrote: »

Chelsea could throw out a second tier team for this.

They could put out any team they like. They will still loose.

Barr

thorbarry wrote: »

They could put out any team they like. They will still loose.

They have bigger fish to fry

MUSEIST

I actually fancy chelsea tomorrow. Won't be like the 3-5 earlier in the season, this time chelsea will actually try to defend since we cut out that AVB kamikaze style defending.

Redzer7

Not sure what to think to be honest, would absolutely love 3 points, it'd make my weekend :pac: will give my prediction before the game tomorrow :P.

gosplan

Given they're in sixth adn have little chance of catching Arsenal, Spurs ahv very nice fixtures and Newcastle are still ahead of them. I don't actually think Chelsea can still finish fourth.

Ivonavic out, Drog out, Lampard prob needs rest before Barca.

Expect to see Kalou, Essien, Boswinga and perhaps some others of the Chelsea squad players come in.

cson

Wow.

Referring to Essien as a squad player. Never thought I'd see that in print.

Blatter

cson wrote: »

Wow.

Referring to Essien as a squad player. Never thought I'd see that in print.

He's been pretty poor since he's come back. (from when I've seen him)

Lost a few yards of pace and struggles to keep up with play. If I was an Arsenal fan I'd love to see him in the starting line up.

shangri la

Chelseas third game in 6 days. Tired legs?

gosplan

cson wrote: »

Wow.

Referring to Essien as a squad player. Never thought I'd see that in print.

Yeah, I've actually always been a massive fan. Was really hoping he'd come to Arsenal - thought he was made for the team.

Anyway, he's just not first choice now.

Two years ago, he would have been one of the first midfielders in any team anywhere, especially for games against teams like Barca.

Last week, they started Mikel ahead of him.

pistolpetes11

gosplan wrote: »

Given they're in sixth adn have little chance of catching Arsenal, Spurs ahv very nice fixtures and Newcastle are still ahead of them. I don't actually think Chelsea can still finish fourth.

Ivonavic out, Drog out, Lampard prob needs rest before Barca.

Expect to see Kalou, Essien, Boswinga and perhaps some others of the Chelsea squad players come in.

Beat arsenal today and win our game in hand and were only a point behind arsenal .


Tricky game I can see a two one either way , first scorer wins the game for me .

Torres to get one today !

pistolpetes11

thorbarry wrote: »

They could put out any team they like. They will still loose.

I love it when Chelsea are the underdogs ! The form we are in at the moment anything is possible .

Sgt Pepper 64

I think def
Essien, Danny and Torres will start.
The back 4 almost picks itself due to injuries
Cahill, Cole and JT, then its probably Bose
Be nice if Cole could get a rest, if Bertrand is fit

Midfield will probably see Kalou and Malouda in, then its hard to guess, is Romeu fit yet?

Arsenal are deffo weakened with Yossi and Arteta out, but will still be favourites and they still have a lot of pace in that team, so sadly I dont think they will lose and a draw isnt really that good for us at this stage, although after the 2 Manchester clubs we are the best at not conceding away from home

Our undoing is a lack of goals from our strikers

Sgt Pepper 64

gosplan wrote: »

Yeah, I've actually always been a massive fan. Was really hoping he'd come to Arsenal - thought he was made for the team.

Anyway, he's just not first choice now.

Two years ago, he would have been one of the first midfielders in any team anywhere, especially for games against teams like Barca.

Last week, they started Mikel ahead of him.

Yep, its a shame what injuries can do. One of the few genuine world class players in our team. Ramires has the same engine but lacks some of his other qualitys

NinjaK

Hope Arsenal win this one, dont want Chelsea in next seasons CL

Redzer7

Artetta is a huge loss IMO, don't know whether we'll be able to keep up with Chelsea's midfield, I reckon Oxo should start for either Walcott or Gervinho, not sure who I want in midfield, Ramsey's form is dismal. Diaby to come on and play a stormer!

DenMan

Really looking forward to this. Hope Arsenal can get something out of this game. I disagree about Chelsea having one eye on Barcelona. Abramovich knows that if they don't finish fourth in the league and get knocked out in mid-week it's no Champions League football for next season. That would make him livid. A 1-1 draw possibly.

Chelsea are being written off but they will be on a high.

Could be a good game. I'm going for 2-2.

Oranage2

Chelsea is amazing form - Arsenal are up and down. Have a horrible feeling Chelsea will win but my feelings are always wrong so who knows.

Redzer7

DenMan wrote: »

Really looking forward to this. Hope Arsenal can get something out of this game. I disagree about Chelsea having one eye on Barcelona. Abramovich knows that if they don't finish fourth in the league and get knocked out in mid-week it's no Champions League football for next season. That would make him livid. A 1-1 draw possibly.

Absolutely, No Champions League football next year would be a disaster for Chelsea IMO.

RichT

Oranage2 wrote: »

Chelsea is amazing form - Arsenal are up and down. Have a horrible feeling Chelsea will win but my feelings are always wrong so who knows.

I have a lovely feeling that Chelsea will win and my feelings are always wrong too.............

Somethings gotta give.

gosplan

pistolpetes11 wrote: »

Beat arsenal today and win our game in hand and were only a point behind arsenal .


Tricky game I can see a two one either way , first scorer wins the game for me .

Torres to get one today !

I don't mean Chelsea can't catch Arsenal because let's face it, a gunneresque implosion is always a possibility. Nonetheless, if the above did happen, and Chelsea won all their remaining games, Arsenal would still have only three 3 games left to stay ahead - two of them vrs Norwich and West Brom.

What I'm kind of getting at is that Chelsea have to catch Arsenal plus another of Spurs or Newcastle, and they've a minimum of two extra very tough matches thrown in to their schedule as well.

If they do it, man, will they deserve it but I think they might just not have enough games left.

gosplan

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Diaby, Coquelin, Gervinho, Chamakh.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand, Essien, Romeu, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge, Torres.
Substitutes: Turnbull, Ferreira, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Mata, Meireles.



Chelsea ceding the midfield and going for pace and power.

Wolf Club

Arteta is a massive loss going into this game, thankfully Chelsea's midfield isn't as formidable as it once was. I'd like to see a midfield of Song, Ox and Rosicky; the question is should Ox play in the middle instead of Ramsey or out wide instead of Gervinho; as neither of those players have been in sparkling form recently.

iainconlon12

Chamberlain starting! Hopefully Chelsea won't have a notion of how to deal with him :P

HazDanz

Really fancy Arsenal with that team Chelsea have put out. We'll get at them on the wings the easiest

Meglamonia

Delighted to see Romeu starting.Hope he plays well after being out of action for a while.

Come on the blues!

Mickeroo

Think Arsenal could swing it with the team Chelsea are fielding, wasn't all that confident otherwise.

Royale with Cheese

Happy to see players like drogba, mata, lampard not playing. I'd make arsenal favourites but that Chelsea team is still capable of winning. I'd be much happier if Ramsey wasn't playing.

Hank Scorpio

Hard match to call, reckon Arsenal wll win but I'd be alot more confident if Arteta was playing!

RichT

Certainly not Chelsea's strongest line-up, but I'd like to think those selected might put that bit of extra effort in to try and stake a claim to be involved in Tuesdays game.

greendom

I originally thought a draw but after seeing the Chelsea line-up this is a great chance for Arsenal to all but secure champions league football.

Sgt Pepper 64

gosplan wrote: »

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Diaby, Coquelin, Gervinho, Chamakh.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand, Essien, Romeu, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge, Torres.
Substitutes: Turnbull, Ferreira, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Mata, Meireles.



Chelsea ceding the midfield and going for pace and power.

Ceding the midfield? Essien and Romeu should be ok there
Certainly the "weakest" chelsea side for a long while, resting Mata and Cole.
Good to see Bertrand getting more starts and in a big game as well

Surprised really that Chelsea seen to be going more for the impossible dream of the UCL (do we really have a chance against Barca at the Nou camp, when we have proved our point at home, and then its Bayern or Rm in the final if we do get though somehow!)
Rather than more going for 4th place and the riches it is has!

L'prof

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

Surprised really that Chelsea seen to be going more for the impossible dream of the UCL (do we really have a chance against Barca at the Nou camp, when we have proved our point at home, and then its Bayern or Rm in the final if we do get though somehow!)
Rather than more going for 4th place and the riches it is has!

It's still a strong team that has a very good chance of coming away with something today!

Sgt Pepper 64

L'prof wrote: »

It's still a strong team that has a very good chance of coming away with something today!

Disagree - Bertrand and Bose - more Bose than bertie
Essien and Romeu - essien has lost a lot of pace and Romeu hasnt played for a while
Kalou and Malouda - nuff said
Torres
Danny hasnt scored since before xmas

oh and JT carry yet another injury

Not confident!

Richard Hillman

First time ive seen Jamie Redknapp on Sky in a while. I wonder is he being fazed out

Pepe LeFrits

Arsenal's back four need to be really on it today as I think Chelsea will sit deep and look to go very direct, particularly through Kalou and Sturridge. I'm concerned, not sure there's enough guile in that Arsenal team.

Barr

Hope JT doesn't get injured - I'm suprised his risked again.

gosplan

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Arsenal's back four need to be really on it today as I think Chelsea will sit deep and look to go very direct, particularly through Kalou and Sturridge. I'm concerned, not sure there's enough guile in that Arsenal team.

Yup, I fear a b-movie remake of Wednesday's Barca match.


An early Arsenal goal would be nice though.

Hank Scorpio

good warmup for Chelsea until they meet the final boss on Tuesday :pac: