Chelsea vs Arsenal, 12:45, BT Sport

Alfred Borden

Massive game at the top of the table. A defeat for Arsenal will all but finish their title aspirations, while a defeat for Chelsea will leave a serious dent in them with a trip to Anfield to come. A draw would really open up the door for City and Liverpool so this is probably the biggest game of the season for these two teams so far.

Arsenal are hampered by injuries to Ozil, Wilshere, Walcott, Diaby and Ramsey while Rosicky faces a late fitness check. Cole,Ramires, Willian and MVG are all out for the blues.

This great mans 1000 game in charge of Arsenal, can he take away Joses home record? Would be sweet after the "specialist in failure" comment.

Nuri Sahin

Let's go draaaaaaaaaw!

Oh, and prediction is Chelsea 2-1 (Eto'o, Terry and Cazorla with the goals).

Turtyturd

Win/win no matter the result....as long as we don't mess up our game.

Edit: Cant see past a Chelsea win though, Arsenal still seem to have a psychological block when it comes to these games.

keano_afc

Think we'll struggle in this one, Giroud is quite blunt against better defences. We need the midfield to support him.

Gonna go an optimistic 1-1 which wont help either team, and Mourinho to get poked in the eye by the corner flag and blame Wenger.

prettyboy81

Draw please!!!!

2-0 or 2-1 to Chelsea.

5starpool

If Arsenal lose they are not definitely out of the title race although it will make it very difficult with the remaining fixtures. As things stand, the top 4 could still finish in any configuration really, although some are more likely than others of course.

A draw with several sending offs would be the result that would please me most.

Will I Amnt

Chelsea to grind out a win in a close game.

GavRedKing

A draw really f**ks up both teams while a loss for either will probably kill any chance they have at the league with Citys games in hand and Liverpools form.

I fancy us to win, mainly because we're at home, Ramires despite how poor his overall game is, his running and energy will be missed, especially if hes replaced by the slow Mikel or even slower Lampard, Schurrle will probably take Willians palce who despite being lighting on the counter offers no goal scoring threat as such so Schurrle is a slight upgrade on the attacking edge even if Willian is a more dynamic.

I'd expect our Statring XI to be

Cech
Ivan Cahill JT Azp
Matic Lamps
Schurrle Oscar Hazard
Etoo

Some stats, Arsenal have won at the Bridge more times than anyother visting side, 7 times since the start of the EPL.

Joses unbeaten in 10 games against Wenger (5wins, 5 draws)

mike65

Its hard to see why Mourinhos home record should be ended tomorrow so I'll go for a draw.

Panthro

Blues all the way.
Roll it on in lads.

Frisbee

I expect Chelsea to win, and while a draw wouldn;t be a huge amount of use to us, I would be very happy with one.

GavRedKing

A draw suits Liverpool right down to the ground and could, with their game in hand be above us after the Sunderland game midweek.

Joses 75 game unbeaten EPL home record up vs Wenger in charge of his 1000th Arsenal game, its going to be a good game, nervy as f**k for both sets of fans here and the neutrals would prefer a draw, naturally.

Back in 2007, Wenger rocked up to the Bridge to play his 500th game in charge of Arsenal against Chelsea and Jose and it was a Drogba freak goal that settled the tie 1-0.

Johner

I think we will win. We've come out on top in every big home game this season and I expect the same tomorrow.

2-1 Chelsea.

GavRedKing

Could be a tale of the CFs tomorrow, at the Emirates Giroud had 2 good chances to win the game and fluffed both.

We'll probably start with Etoo, hes our top scoring EPL CF but thats not a lot to shout home about as he hasnt scored away from the Bridge at all this season and our bench doesnt exactly have much quality to change it if we go behind, in the Cf terms at least.

We're looking at the 2 teams in the top 4 and both have the worse selection of CFs, wonder will one of them be a hero tomorrow?

Etoo has scored goals against Utd, Liverpool and Spurs for us at the Bridge so far so to add to it tomorrow would be sweet.

Agueroooo

Chelsea win for me.

draw would be nice.

Alfred Borden

GavRedKing wrote: »

A draw suits Liverpool right down to the ground and could, with their game in hand be above us after the Sunderland game midweek.

Joses 75 game unbeaten EPL home record up vs Wenger in charge of his 1000th Arsenal game, its going to be a good game, nervy as f**k for both sets of fans here and the neutrals would prefer a draw, naturally.

Back in 2007, Wenger rocked up to the Bridge to play his 500th game in charge of Arsenal against Chelsea and Jose and it was a Drogba freak goal that settled the tie 1-0.

i remember that goal so well, out of all his goals against us thats my most hared, so poxy :mad:

GavRedKing

Raf32 wrote: »

i remember that goal so well, out of all his goals against us thats my most hared, so poxy :mad:

Ya it was one of those how th f*k did that go in kind of goal.

Long free kick up the side of the CB, horrible attempt of a touch that bobbled in past an on rushing Lehmann.

Drogba went to the crowd to confront a fan after the goal who was giving him stick for missing a chance a few mins earlier.

Alfred Borden

GavRedKing wrote: »

Ya it was one of those how th f*k did that go in kind of goal.

Long free kick up the side of the CB, horrible attempt of a touch that bobbled in past an on rushing Lehmann.

Drogba went to the crowd to confront a fan after the goal who was giving him stick for missing a chance a few mins earlier.

I thought we had played well and then to get that unlucky, oh i despised yee so much at that minute :pac:

speaking of drogba and lehmann

wandatowell

Chealsea too strong for Arsenal unfortunately.

2-0 to the home team.

Alfred Borden

Also going with 1-0 Chelsea, set piece goal from Terry.

Roddy23

Arsenal to win 2-1 Giroud and Mertesacker with the goals. Terry to score for Chelsea.

emergingstar

Think it will be a draw and both teams wil still be right in it

Morzadec

Really looking forward to this one, although I expect it may not be a pretty match!

I predict a 1-1 draw.

As mentioned in the OP, it would be quite something for Wenger, on his 1,000th game, to go and take away Mourinho's record, especially after some of his recent disrespectful comments.

As a Liverpool fan I would probably prefer a draw, but that would be sweet to see also.

rob316

A draw or a Chelsea win is my preference as a Liverpool fan. If Liverpool are still in it for the Chelsea game at Anfield I would much rather have Arsenal out of it by then and just the matter of Chelsea to get past then to win the league....that's what I hope anyway:D

There is still City though too:(

Mr.Micro

emergingstar wrote: »

Think it will be a draw and both teams wil still be right in it

Yes, a draw likely, but with favour to Chelsea being at home.

How are Arsenal choosing their bench? First one at the gates in the morning with a pair of boots? :P

greendom

Not that confident about today. We need to have the ball more than we did last week. If we give Chelsea as much possession as we did Spurs we will lose

Giroud was completely ineffective last week and he will be again unless the midfield is prepared to push up to him and provide support.

gosplan

Really wish Arsenal weren't so affected by injuries.

We might have a chance with Rambo and Wally.

No chance Giroud scores in this game, not a hope.

0-0 is about the best result Arsenal fans can hope for.

Alfred Borden

Really nervous about this game but not expecting anything from it. Giroud will be anonymous again while most our play should come from Ox and Rosicky should he play. Trust our defense to keep Chelsea quiet enough even after the games at City and Pool.

A draw would be nice but it'll be a Chelsea win imo

Vinz Mesrine

I'd love a draw and I think I'll be a happy camper at 2.40 today, 2-2

Can't see past an Arsenal defeat. Injuries taking their toll.

I would love to see Wenger nut Maureen mind you

Nuri Sahin

Chelsea XI vs Arsenal: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Luiz, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o.

Arsenal XI vs Chelsea: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Rosicky; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud.

duploelabs

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

Chelsea XI vs Arsenal: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Luiz, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o.

Happy with that

mike65

That's as strong as Arsenal can get probably, what's the bench like though?!

tigger123

Hazard v Sagna? Chelsea win methinks.

L'prof

Arsenal subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Flamini, Kallstrom, Sanogo, Gnabry

Chelsea subs: Schwarzer, Kalas, Mikel, Lampard, Salah, Ba, Torres

GavRedKing

Very happy with the midfield two of Matic and Luiz.

Andersonisgod

I really think today we will see the difference between real title challengers and a side that will fall short. This Chelsea side is physically very strong, technically very strong but also mentally very strong, a mental toughness that flows down from Mourinho, through Terry and to the rest of the squad. I think a Chelsea win today, which puts us back in a good place in the title race.

Johner

Good to see Luiz back and in midfield!

duploelabs

Johner wrote: »

Good to see Luiz back and in midfield!

And partnering Matic, our strongest midfield pairing

Johner

duploelabs wrote: »

And partnering Matic, our strongest midfield pairing

Was brilliant against City away. I love Ramires but am glad he is banned for this one, has been woefully out of form.

greendom

I'd love a Terry falling on his ass moment today - I'd take the 5 - 3 that went with it too. Very much doubt either will happen though.

Johner

greendom wrote: »

I'd love a Terry falling on his ass moment today - I'd take the 5 - 3 that went with it too. Very much doubt either will happen though.

That was painful. RVP destroyed us that day.

tayto lover

Hopeful rather than confident.
Arsenal are injury ravished and have a weak bench with no game changers.
Can see Chelsea bossing midfield but if Arsenal could just sneak a lead and then bring on a couple more defenders .....?

Manach

It should prove an interesting game and hopefully provide another reason to celebrate Wenger's 1000th match.

PurpleSt4in

Eto to score first and a Chelsea win please.

greendom

That Chelsea team looks so solid - need a very special performance from every Arsenal player to get a win. Any weakness will be exploited

Gringo180

Not looking forward to this, I dont think any of the top teams could come to Stamford Bridge crippled with injuries to there best players and come away with a win. Id take a draw in the circumstances.

tayto lover

greendom wrote: »

That Chelsea team looks so solid - need a very special performance from every Arsenal player to get a win. Any weakness will be exploited

We will need a lot more from Giroud and Podolski in particular.
They were poor last week and even though I like them they will have to work much harder.
No room for passengers today.