Chelsea v Arsenal, 12.45pm k/o

GavRedKing

Chelsea, slightly bouyed by a recent win against M.Tel Aviv, face another big test on Saturday when Arsenal come town, themselves coming off a loss away in Zagreb during the week.

No point beating around the bush, Chelsea have been utterly, utterly useless so far this season and have the worse defensive record in the league. Arsenal despite a poor start against West Ham are doing well, winning 3 and drawing 1 of the following 4 league games.

Chelsea have played well in short periods but not well enough over sustained timeframe to win the games theyve lost recently.

Hard to know what Jose will do, he dropped JT and Cahill recently and it didnt work, he tried playing Mikel in CM that didnt work, the isue Chelsea have is about 8 or 9 of the goals weve left in have come from our right flank and Ivanovic, who hasnt been dropped yet but was for the Tel Aviv game with Azpilicuta at RB and Rahman at LB.

I'm hoping for a win, Jose has an excellent record against Wenger through the years but I cant see us keeping out Arsenal with their pace and movement. Both teams scoring looks a cert from there, its anyones guess as to how it will finish but Arsenal fans wont fear coming to the Bridge this time around as we're smack in the middle of a terrible run.

Magico Gonzalez

Both teams need something here, I can see a 1-1 draw with Arsenal having the lion's share of the ball but not enough up top to capitalise.

Big pressure on both Managers IMO

Should be a good game

ricero

If arsenal have anything about them they should get something from this game considering chelseas league form. Still im going for a chelsea win

Lukker-

I think both teams are going in at a relatively even footing. Both need a result.

Dozen Wicked Words

Football will be the winner.

Nil Nil.

greendom

ricero wrote: »

If arsenal have anything about them they should get something from this game considering chelseas league form. Still im going for a chelsea win

So Arsenal have nothing about them ?

GavRedKing

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Football will be the winner.

Nil Nil.

Unless we actually park a bus infront of the goal I cant see us keeping a clean sheet.

Heres hoping for a classic Jose bore fest :pac:

ricero

greendom wrote: »

So Arsenal have nothing about them ?

I find arsenal to be mentally weak in these big games especially the last few seasons so that is why i think chelsea will win here.

The_Kew_Tour

Chelsea win.

Arsenal bottle these type of games.

And Jose record against Wenger is too one sided.

duploelabs

Money's on a bit of Argy from Wenger and Mou

HalloweenJack

Arsenal and Chelsea both played a mix of first and second string players mid-week so the results should be taken with a pinch of salt.

As much as I try, I just can't see Chelsea putting in an amazing shift. I think it's going to be very cagey from us, maybe a bit more confidence, thanks to Costa and Fab scoring, but Hazard was atrocious against Maccabi the other night so I don't see how this game is going to be any different from him. The players that impressed the other night, RLC, Willian and to an extent Remy, aren't or probably aren't going to feature much tomorrow.

Haven't seen much of Arsenal so far but from what I have their problems seem to be more along the lines of settling down as opposed to being hopeless like ourselves.

Although Mourinho still has the upper hand over Wenger, the Charity Shield win this year is a massive mental hurdle to overcome. I reckon for once he can go into this game not fearing a beating.

I reckon Arsenal win or a draw, just can't see us winning and don't have enough belief to think that things will change for the time being.

Panthro

Thread needs a sexy picture.
Hon Chelsea!

GavRedKing

Panthro wrote: »

Thread needs a sexy picture.
Hon Chelsea!

Like this?

brianregan09

I think Chelsea will beat us , a sneaky 2-1 but I hope i'm wrong i'd take a draw

adox

brianregan09 wrote: »

I think Chelsea will beat us , a sneaky 2-1 but I hope i'm wrong i'd take a draw

You think they'll score two goals without you noticing?

brianregan09

adox wrote: »

You think they'll score two goals without you noticing?

???? I meant as in we'll probably control the game it'll be 1-1 and chelsea will be awarded wrongly a penalty/offside goal/pick you're poison

didn't think i'd have to explain that one but anyway

adox

brianregan09 wrote: »

???? I meant as in we'll probably control the game it'll be 1-1 and chelsea will be awarded wrongly a penalty/offside goal/pick you're poison

didn't think i'd have to explain that one but anyway

it was meant light heartedly.

Panthro

I feel a virtual thumb war is on the cards

Rayne Wooney

Would like an Arsenal win or draw

City could potentially have a 14 point lead tomorrow, Arsenal haven't got the team to seriously challenge City and United will be frustrated against the lower teams imo the league almost decided in September

I wonder what the record is in terms of the amount of points behind a league leader a title winning team has been at some stage. I can't remember any comeback cases off the top of my head

batistuta9

arsenal 12 points behind in united in '98

KaiserGunner

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Would like an Arsenal win or draw

City could potentially have a 14 point lead tomorrow, Arsenal haven't got the team to seriously challenge City and United will be frustrated against the lower teams imo the league almost decided in September

I wonder what the record is in terms of the amount of points behind a league leader a title winning team has been at some stage. I can't remember any comeback cases off the top of my head

So basically what you are saying is that United haven't got the team to seriously challenge city either?

On the match,hoping for an Arsenal win and I really think that we need it. A defeat again and everyone will be writing Arsenal off for the title. If given a draw right now I'd take it.

Expecting a Chelsea win or a draw. Arsenal have been so wasteful in front of goal this season, it's not even funny. Can't afford to waste chance after chance against Chelsea regardless of their form. Hoping I'm proven wrong, but can't see a win unfortunately.

GreNoLi

Arsenal will manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with a petualnt sending off or similar, 4-2 to chelsea.

gosplan

I'm going to be the first fan actually calling this for their team.

Sanchez and Walcott will move and stretch the Chelsea defence and wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of chaos or a penalty.

Chelsea played well the other night but Hazard did not. I don't really rate their passing game so with Willian out, Pedro a doubt and Hazard out of form, I'd be more confidant in our ability to keep them out.

Worried about defending set pieces though.

2-0 to Arsenal. Caz from the spot and Sanchez to open his account.

All that said, good luck Chelsea.

Korat

I expect Chelsea will try kick Arsenal off the pitch today. They need a win by any means necessary.

niallo27

Hard to know who to shout for here. Would be funny to see Chelsea in the relegation zone.

tayto lover

adox wrote: »

You think they'll score two goals without you noticing?

That wouldn't surprise me at all

JustTheOne

niallo27 wrote: »

Hard to know who to shout for here. Would be funny to see Chelsea in the relegation zone.

So why not shout for arsenal so?

Panthro

JustTheOne wrote: »

So why not shout for arsenal so?

Because that would see Arsenal take the Highwayyyyy to the danger zoneeee.
RWC on the telly, the footy on the laptop.
Hello Saturday.

niallo27

JustTheOne wrote: »

So why not shout for arsenal so?

Because there arsenal and if liverpool can get their **** together Arsenal should be a team they need to be knocking out of the top 4.

JustTheOne

niallo27 wrote: »

Because there arsenal and if liverpool can get their **** together Arsenal should be a team they need to be knocking out of the top 4.

Oh.

greendom

niallo27 wrote: »

Because there arsenal and if liverpool can get their **** together Arsenal should be a team they need to be knocking out of the top 4.

Presumably not with Chelsea in the relegation zone

niallo27

greendom wrote: »

Presumably not with Chelsea in the relegation zone

Chelsea will come good. Second or third for them.

greendom

Terry not playing apparently

greendom

Check out @Arsenal's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/645186827075354625?s=09

greendom

That was weird. Seeing the Chelsea crest above Cech. I thought it was the Chelsea team for a sec

greendom

Pedro playing for Chelsea. Ivanovic too!

Dozen Wicked Words

Ivanovic captain for Chelsea today. No idea how he's still getting picked.

KaiserGunner

No real surprises in that Arsenal lineup apart from Walcott upfront instead of Giroud. I'm happy to see Walcott start as Giroud has never imo played well against Chelsea. So another chance for Walcott to show that he can lead the line.

tayto lover

Gibbs shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the bench after Wed.

Bobby Baccala

Arsene putting out what I think is our strongest 11. Still nowhere near confident of a win, Chelsea away is one of the toughest fixtures of the season.

SlickRic

It's official. Ivan is never getting dropped.

tayto lover

Heading out soon to watch the game more in hope than confidence.
Come on you Gunners.

J. Marston

Gabriel will cost Arsenal the game. Useless and petulant.

Recipe for disaster in a derby.

greendom

J. Marston wrote: »

Gabriel will cost Arsenal the game. Useless and petulant.

Recipe for disaster in a derby.

He's been our best defender in recent games. Agreed tho Gab vs Costa could get feisty.

Panthro

tayto lover wrote: »

Heading out soon to watch the game more in hope than confidence.
Come on you Gunners.

Dont need hope,Ivan starts. All you need now is a pacey player.

MD1990

J. Marston wrote: »

Gabriel will cost Arsenal the game. Useless and petulant.

Recipe for disaster in a derby.

He is actually a very good CB. Can see him keeping Costa quiet.

Bobby Baccala

J. Marston wrote: »

Gabriel will cost Arsenal the game. Useless and petulant.

Recipe for disaster in a derby.

You've no idea what you're on about haha

Gringo180

niallo27 wrote: »

Because there arsenal and if liverpool can get their **** together Arsenal should be a team they need to be knocking out of the top 4.

:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

JustTheOne

J. Marston wrote: »

Gabriel will cost Arsenal the game. Useless and petulant.

Recipe for disaster in a derby.

Yeah same way kos is a terrible cb

Oh and monreal is useless too.

Do these people actually watch matches?

hots

Glad to see Zouma and Oscar get the nod and not surprised that he's not trusting Rahmann yet. Big balls to drop JT, I think playing him and ivanovic together would be as good as giving Walcott a hattrick. Expecting to see Sanchez and Walcott sitting on Ivan for the whole game.