Capital One Cup · 4th Round - Arsenal vs Chelsea

Both sides completed largely expected wins in their Round 3 ties, albeit in differing fashions. Chelsea registered an overwhelmingly expected victory over struggling, third-division Swindon Town through goals from Fernando Torres and Ramires, while Arsenal with an incredibly young side fielded triumphed over in-form West Brom via a penalty shootout.










This fixture is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch of all the 4th Round ties. This fiery derby will be
the first since Chelsea did the double over their North London neighbours last season via a duo of
2-1 victories, and the Gunners will be hoping their storming start to the season which has fired them
to the top of both the Premier League and their Champions League 'group of death' will carry over into
the Cup and compel them to what would be their first victory over Chelsea in exactly 2 years to
the day.











The two sides also boast the undisputed 2 best managers in England. The pair famously clashed often during Mourinho's first stint at Chelsea, and both will doubtless be eager to go head to head once again after this 6-year-long intermission.









This match also, incidentally, falls on the same day as the infamous 3-5 game at Stamford Bridge 2 years ago, in which Chelsea under profoundly naive new manager AVB were torn to pieces by Arsenal with the help of a Robin Van Persie hat-trick past a torrid high-line Blues defence.










The last meeting between these 2 sides in this tournament was in the competition's Final, in 2007. Theo Walcott opened the scoring to put the Gunners one up on 12 minutes, but a brace from infamous Arsenal torturer Didier Drogba handed the trophy to José Mourinho's men for the second time in 3 years.











Missing for the home side will be Mathieu Flamini, who was brought off against Crystal Palace at the weekend with a thigh strain and is now expected to be out for several weeks, as well as attacking trio Theo Walcott, Lucas Podolski, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Chelsea, alternatively, have zero injuries.











The Gunners will also be without another key man in midfield in Mikel Arteta, who was shown red by Chris Foy in Saturday's early kick-off derby against Crystal Palace, after Marouane Chamakh was brought down by the Spaniard and was adjudged to have been last-man.

I honestly do not care about this game BUT knowing Mourinho, he'll put out a strong team to try get the win. Two reasons, in his first stint, he wanted to win it to send a message, I believe he'll do that again and It's Arsenal, if we can rattle them in this game, who knows, maybe they'll faulter in the league.


I am sure it'll be something like that. Strong.

Thing of it is, even a non-first-choice team is still full of regulars. You're just as likely to see that line-up you posted above in a League game as you would be in a meaningless Cup match like this. We have fantastic strength in depth, especially compared to last year.

Shed wrote:Thing of it is, even a non-first-choice team is still full of regulars. You're just as likely to see that line-up you posted above in a League game as you would be in a meaningless Cup match like this. We have fantastic strength in depth, especially compared to last year.

We do, except for CM. (I won't discuss this here.)

Arsenal do not have the same depth and I think, having watched their game against Palace, they need to rotate as they're rather tired. I think they'll put out a weaker side.

Both managers claimed weeks ago when the draw was made they'd both be putting out "young" sides. Can't see it myself. Especially on our part.

Shed wrote:Both managers claimed weeks ago when the draw was made they'd both be putting out "young" sides. Can't see it myself. Especially on our part.

Exactly, Unless we play Blackman, Kalas and youth players, we don't really have young players. We might see RLC play, that would be nice but a part from that, we'll put out a decent side.

Why put out a youngster-laden side when we have such strength in depth anyway?

My thoughts too, and like I said, I imagine Jose will want to win the cup so he will put out a strong squad.

Indeed. Now let's twat this sorry lot and dump them out of the only competition they have a snowball's chance in hell of winning  

Sounds good, you know what to do, Jose!

José Mourinho backs down on threat to field youth team for Arsenal tie:
• José Mourinho has withdrawn his threat to field Chelsea's under-21 development side in Tuesday's Capital One Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal as a protest at being made to play the game 48 hours after the team's most recent Premier League match
• None of Sunday's players to feature at Emirates on Tuesday
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/28/jose-mourinho-chelsea-arsenal

"If they want a big game, we cannot give a big game. If they want the players that were playing against Manchester City, we cannot give them that. If they want us not to win a trophy, that's a help, because if they want a big game between two big teams in London they should put the game on Wednesday, not on Tuesday. I'm not going to give them that."

"No, we have to respect our fans and we discussed that in the club. We have to protect our players too. We cannot put our players playing two matches in three days in October. Arsenal played at 12:45 on Saturday, so they will have had two and a half days to rest and prepare. So yes, I hope they all enjoy it. We are going to try and do our job and we will do our job the best we can."

As expected.

By the sounds of it, we'll play:

-------------------------------Fabianski-----------------------------------
Jenkinson-----------Vermaelen------------Koscielny-----------------Monreal
---------------------Hayden-------------Wilshere--------------------------
Gnabry-------------------------Rosicky--------------------------Ryo
-------------------------Bendtner-------------------------------------------



And this is Arsenal's probable line-up according to RG's corresponding thread in the Arse section. If we can't beat that lot with that team you posted, we don't deserve to go through

We certainly look the stronger side, however, their defence isn't half bad.

Shouldn't be hard.

Damn its at 2 45 tonight.. hmmmm

Mine is 6am. I am not sure it's even played on tv here either.

Tonight is Jose's 200th game in charge of Chelsea, He's won 133 of those.

I'm gonna check

Its at 3 40... my god! I think I'll watch xD no classes tomorrow hehe

ARSENAL XI: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Ryo, Bendtner


CHELSEA XI: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Essien; De Bruyne, Mata, Willian; Eto'o

ARSENAL SUBS: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil, Giroud, Park


CHELSEA SUBS: Blackman, Ivanovic, Kalas, Ramires, Hazard, Torres, Ba

75% possession 8 minutes in

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!


Azpi scores off an Arsenal mistake at the back eerily similar to the once Torres capitalised on at the weekend...

HT: Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea


In large control throughout the half. Arsenal have had their bouts of possession, but have scarcely threatened.