Premier League Matchday 31 sees Chelsea host locals rivals Arsenal in what promises to be a landmark London derby, and quite possibly the most pivotal one between the sides in ages. Indeed, with both London denizens right in the thick of the title hunt for the first time in years, there can be few more consequential games between the sides to recall in at least the last half-decade. For the winner, a vital 3 points, while the loser, depending on other results, could well find themselves out in the cold of this championship race with precious little time remaining to make it up.










The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-1 victory to the home side. Chelsea took the lead very early on through a sublimely-brought down and nicely taken-goal from Juan Mata a mere 6 minutes in, and the Blues doubled their lead just 10 minutes later when Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczęsny brought down Ramires in the box. Martin Atkinson summarily pointed to the Shed End spot, and Frank Lampard stepped up to give Rafa Benitez's men their second goal on the day and his 195th for the club overall. The visitors fought back strong in the second half, though, and did manage to pull one back for themselves with just over an hour remaining through Theo Walcott, but it ultimately proved a mere consolation, and the Blues' double over their London neighbours was complete.










The sides were at either end of 1-0 scorelines the weekend previous in their respective gameweek fixtures. Chelsea fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa at Villa Park in a match that saw 2 Blues players sent off and a goal from Nemanja Matić chalked off, through a brilliant backheel from Fabian Delph finding its way past Petr Cech with 8 minutes remaining to condemn the shell-shocked Blues to their first Premier League defeat in over 3 months, while Arsenal won their first North London derby against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in their last 5 as they defeated their bitter rivals by a goal to nil courtesy of a solitary sensational wonder-goal from Tomáš Rosický barely a minute into the match.





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Both sides can tout impressive credentials coming into Saturday's derby. Arsenal have beaten every London rival away they've played this season, and will surely have their sights on making it 5 for 5 come full-time Saturday to complete the set, while Chelsea have beaten every team currently in the Top 8 of the League at home, with a record of 15 goals for and 4 against, and will themselves be aiming to finish off the last remaining one in similar fashion.










Another backdrop to this match, as invariably ends up being the case one way or another, are their managers. The two have famously never quite gotten on, and the animus between the two was intensified a few weeks ago when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said of his Blues counterpart, refutably directly, indirectly or even either at all, that the Portuguese's continual playing down of his sides prospects at lifting the Premier League title come season's-end was borne our of a "fear of failure". When asked about it at his own press conference a few hours later, Mourinho bitingly responded by saying the Frenchman was a "specialist in failure", and that if he had ever overseen a period at Chelsea tantamount to the one the Arsenal boss has at the Emirates for the last 8 years, he would leave London and never show his face in it again. A media brouhaha expectedly ensued, and the small verbal melee is certain to be brought up several times in both the build-up and aftermath to this match.









Andre Marriner, who last refereed for Arsenal in their 4-1 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates on February 22nd and for Chelsea in their 2-2 draw with West Brom at Stamford Bridge on November 9th, in which he controversially awarded a last-second penalty to Chelsea to salvage the Blues a draw and preserve José Mourinho's unbeaten home record at Stamford Bridge, has been appointed referee for Saturday's clash.








Arsenal will be without several key players for Saturday's affair in midfielders Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, as well as forward Theo Walcott, who is out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.









Chelsea, while free of any injuries themselves apart from fringe left-back Ashley Cole, will be without wingers Willian and midfielder Ramires after the Brazilian duo's respective red cards in the Blues' 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Will be a massive game, I can't wait.

Interesting to see the line ups for both teams as we're both missing key players.

I feel we need to play:

That should be strong enough to get the win. Also, I can't see Jose losing his unbeaten run at home, not in this fixture.

Not having Ramires can't really hurt our chances but We'll miss Willian. It's insane that you can't appeal one of the worst calls of the season yet Kaboul for a straight red gets his appeal approved almost instantly.

I know, I think Schurrle can be quite effective though. Willian's work rate will be missed though.

lszanto wrote:Not having Ramires can't really hurt our chances but We'll miss Willian. It's insane that you can't appeal one of the worst calls of the season yet Kaboul for a straight red gets his appeal approved almost instantly.

Foy did us a favour sending Ramires off. Atrocious player whom we're lucky to be without for the next 3 games.

I've got money on this game now, so i better not get dicked over

Bad move, Fitty!

Great. That's us done then.

My first leg just finished, I had penrith to win v bulldogs

>78min bulldogs winning by 4 points
>79min penrith score in the corner to make it 16 all
>80th min (after the full time sirens gone) penrith kick the conversion to win 18-16


I'm gonna make it brahs

Brilliant preview Shed

Looking forward to this one. Feeling a bit more optimistic than usual for this fixture.

It's a shame we our missing a crop of our most important players for this match, because I so badly want us to break Mou's record at home for Chelsea.

Our players will do it for Wenger today! Best of luck, you'll need it.

Sharks 12-14 Dragons, won both of my first two legs by two points

so 2 0 victory for us then

Just like I predicted

ARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, David Luiz; Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o

SUBS: Schwarzer, Kalas, Mikel, Lampard, Salah, Ba and Torres


SUBS: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Flamini, Kallstrom, Sanogo, Gnabry

El Gunner wrote:Brilliant preview Shed

Thank you lad

Interesting to see Luiz ahead of Lamps. Hopefully it works out.
The rest I expected.

I suspected that could be the case all week tbh.

So onside it was criminal, that. We are being absolutely dicked with offside calls recently.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!


Et'GOAL

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!!


Shirley doubles the lead a minute later!!!!!!

How many goals has he scored after Mou accused him of being 38? Them Mou mindgames  

SCHURRLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  

"Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay" sing the home crowd

Et'goal coming off injured