Chelsea v Arsenal Preview

What would we do without you Sam! Great preview

Great preview dude!

I have a good feeling about this match, and I think we could come away with a win if the boys work hard

Chelsea are old and tired, last week they played their heart out with 9 men and on Wednesday they went to over time.

I really think we can at least get a point and good job as always Sam for the preview.

RedEyesWhiteBeard wrote:need to win game, as simple as that. id rather have park in instead of Walcott tbh.

We will beat down the old farts, and yes I agree Park is should start instead of Walcott.

Chelsea aren't really an "old" side anymore. Lampard is the only one in that starting eleven that could be considered an "old" player. A lot of them are in their mid to late twenties, which are the prime years for a footballer.

They aren't tired, either, since the majority of their first team was rested in mid-week.

Anyway, the game is obviously going to be difficult but one thing that might play in our favour is Villas Boas' preference for posession and attacking football. When Chelsea were under Mourinho, Hiddink and Acelotti they always played a defensive/counter game against us. I don't expact Villas Boas to do the same.

So obviously the team needs to be on their game defensively, and with them maybe being more offensive than usual we might be able to get them on the break.

I would take a draw. A draw away to Chelsea is a good result, no matter the circumstances.

No Walcott is needed this time, counter-attacking at his best

I'd love for us to sit back and hit them on the counter, as Chelsea have numerously done to us in the past. Terry and Luiz aren't exactly defensively solid and VP will have a nice time.

I'm not sure about risking Vermaelen, though. If he's 100% I'm Ok with it, but the Merts-Kos partnership has been doing so well that it would be madness to disrupt it.

Djourou should be kept as right back unless he has one of those games.

If Vermaelen and Jenkinson play I dont see us losing this game, the only thing I fear is Djourou at RB.

Is park even on the bench? I know I see him on the sub here. I hope Wenger plays him.

If we win this, it's a season-changer. Because we could possibly get 15 total points since the following 4 games are considerably easier and that puts us in the top 4.

Wishful thinking

Glad to see Park on the bench and Chamakh given the wrong directions to Stamford

I'd play Arshavin instead of Walcott.

Bring on Chelski. :hungry:

Jamin wrote:I'd play Arshavin instead of Walcott.

I give this game to Walcott I hope he can show up and score a goal and some assist.

RVP is hungry for more goals.
I wonder what they are saying there.

Raptorgunner wrote:Chelsea are old and tired, last week they played their heart out with 9 men and on Wednesday they went to over time.

I really think we can at least get a point and good job as always Sam for the preview.

Sturridge, Torres, Mata, Ramires, Mikel/Meireles, Terry, Luiz, Bosingwa, Cole, Cech are not old.

Also fitness shouldn't be a problem because we rested everyone vs Everton bar Ivanovic/Luiz (whoever plays with Terry), and Sturridge only played for 35 minutes just like he did vs QPR.

OP: I really don't think we'll play Meireles if Luiz is starting. I expect either Luiz and Mikel or Meireles and Ivanovic to start.

Thanks for the compliments guys.

Hopefully 3 points tomorrow - though of course I would take a draw.

english_jewel wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:Chelsea are old and tired, last week they played their heart out with 9 men and on Wednesday they went to over time.

I really think we can at least get a point and good job as always Sam for the preview.

Sturridge, Torres, Mata, Ramires, Mikel/Meireles, Terry, Luiz, Bosingwa, Cole, Cech are not old.

Also fitness shouldn't be a problem because we rested everyone vs Everton bar Ivanovic/Luiz (whoever plays with Terry), and Sturridge only played for 35 minutes just like he did vs QPR.

OP: I really don't think we'll play Meireles if Luiz is starting. I expect either Luiz and Mikel or Meireles and Ivanovic to start.

Arsenal will give Chelsea one hell of game, we have the best striker in the league . I know Chelsea have a great team but I think we can get a point.

Arsenal team at Stamford Bridge last season:

Fabianski; Sagna Squillaci Koscielny Clichy; Diaby Song Wilshere; Nasri Chamakh Arshavin

No Szczesny, Vermaelen or RVP last year, and they have no Drogba this time.

But we did have Diaby, Sagna and Wilshere last year there, which we won't have this year.

Samuelj29060 wrote:Arsenal team at Stamford Bridge last season:

Fabianski; Sagna Squillaci Koscielny Clichy; Diaby Song Wilshere; Nasri Chamakh Arshavin

No Szczesny, Vermaelen or RVP last year, and they have no Drogba this time.

But we did have Diaby, Sagna and Wilshere last year there, which we won't have this year.

We dominated that game and we should have come away with a point I just hope this game does not end the same way.

I remember Wenger threw Diaby in the AMC role that game and he was a man possessed.

koscielny should have given us the lead in the 2nd min, and chamakh in 14th iirc

RealGunner wrote:koscielny should have given us the lead in the 2nd min, and chamakh in 14th iirc

I remember this very well.

I don't really want to say much about the game

We go as under dogs that much is clear. If we can win, then IMO we will be strong candidate to be in the top 4. If we lose? we will have to work hard to improve ourselves for the future matches.

As long as we give in a solid performance, that's what it matters

Lets go out and give it our best shot