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Premier League Matchday 7 sees Chelsea play host to London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in a match undoubtedly the pick of the bunch as far as the weekend's list of domestic fixtures is concerned. At stake, 3 points, bragging rights, and, at least for one of the sides, revenge...
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Indeed, the corresponding fixture last season is most undoubtedly something which the side ultimately on the wrong end of it will be seeking revenge for this time around. The Blues took the lead very early on through Samuel Eto'o just 5 minutes in, and found their advantage doubled only moments later when André Schürrle found the bottom corner of Wojciech Szczęsny's net. Things would only get worse for the visitors, however, when on 15 minutes, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain very overtly handled the ball as it appeared to be travelling decidedly goalwards. The Gunners were summarily reduced to 10, and Eden Hazard had the chance to step up and finish the miserable North Londoners off with scarcely a quarter of an hour gone. True to form, the Belgian converted flawlessly. The trainwreck would only be compounded 20 minutes later when Oscar found the roof of the net 3 minutes before the interval, and Arsène Wenger's fairytale 1000th match as Arsenal boss headed into the break a total and unmitigated horror-show. The second half would see the Blues net 2 more through Oscar and Mohamed Salah to complete the evisceration their rivals in Red.










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The sides attained contrasting results the weekend before in their Matchday 6 games against remarkably the same opponents they faced ahead of this very fixture last season, albeit in the reverse venues. The Blues played out almost a training exhibition match against usually tricky opponents Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Oscar, Diego Costa and Willian to credit for their eventual 3-0 triumph, while Arsenal negotiated a 1-1 draw in the weekend's North London Derby against Tottenham when a strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cancelled out an opening goal from Nacer Chadli to see the bitter rivals share the spoils.










The respective managers go into this clash with an entirely lopsided head-to-head record against one another. Blues boss José Mourinho has famously never lost a game against his French counterpart in 11 matches between the two, with 6 wins and 5 draws making up the numbers, and the Portuguese will undoubtedly looking to extend that record on Sunday equally as much as the Gunners boss will be looking to at last end it.





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The Blues' home record against the Gunners also bodes well for Sunday's hosts. In the 5 matches at Stamford Bridge against their neighbours from the North since the former's Double-winning season of 2010, they've lost just 1, winning all 4 others - a quartet of victories representing a 12-1 aggregate in the Blues' favour.
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In slightly more recent goings-on, the sides go into this game on the back of contrasting forms. The Gunners, following their impressive 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield match in August and their laboured opening day victory triumph over Crystal Palace at the Emirates, have won just just 2 out of the 8 games they played since, consisting of defeats to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Southampton at home in the Capital One Cup and draws with Beşiktaş, Everton, Leicester City and Manchester City, leaving Arsenal fans thoroughly frustrated and largely questioning their side's prospects this season. Nevertheless, the North Londoners sit 4th in the table, and have the chance to close the gap with their table-topping rivals from the West to 3 points.

Chelsea, conversely, have remained in flying form. 5 wins and a draw at champions Manchester City from their opening 6 domestic games and a draw and a victory against Schalke and Sporting respectively in Europe have seen José Mourinho's men straight to the summit of both the Premier League table and their Champions League group, and another win at the weekend will both keep that run going and put 9 points of daylight between them and their capital city foes.





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Injured for the Blues will be midfielder Ramires and notorious Arsenal torturer Didier Drogba, both out until after the International break starting next week, while the visitors arrive with a slew of injuries comprised of Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy, Theo Walcott, Yaya Sanogo, and Olivier Giroud.
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Martin Atkinson, who last officiated for Chelsea in their infamous 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield at the end of last season and for Arsenal in their 3-0 thumping at the hands of Everton at Goodison Park a few weeks before that, has been appointed referee for Sunday's affair.

Should be a fantastic game.

Full strength squad for this one:

*He'll still score, even if injured

With Arsenal's injuries problems, they're going to have a hard time stopping our midfield as a whole. I expect to see a good game from Cesc, Matic and Hazard.

Cannot wait for this!

Spoiler:

Kick wrote:

Spoiler:

Actually I wasn't sure if you even read them anymore


But cheers Kickster

Kick wrote:

Drogba*

*He'll still score, even if injured

Of course.

I have to make sure you're not miss behaving in the text

Does this means my plans to slip a few f-bombs into the Crystal Palace thread in a few weeks should be aborted immediately?

Yes

Unless you're talking about Fudging Mile Jedinak

Heeey, keep your fantasies to yourself mate

I just realised how that sounded

Anyway, less talk about Arsenal.

I'd like to see us target what ever wing Ozil starts on, preferably with Hazard as he'll then be 1 v 1 with the FB.

I'll be thrilled if they play like they did last season.


Was hilarious watching how easy it was to run right through them.

Yes.

They'll have Flamini-Wilshere in midfield. Target Flamini and we should be good.

Unless Wenger decides to stay with the 4-1-4-1.

It'd be very easy to target Ozil in that formation.

Tactically I can't see him setting out much differently than he did last year (and every other game they play). Attack attack attack and get dicked as a result of it. And the more he's advised against doing so by the fans, media, etc., the more adamant he is on doing it. It's brilliant.

I agree, their midfield will be key and it is very much lacking at present. It's a shame that Wilshere is fit and not Arteta.

An Arteta-Flamini pivot would be fun to play against.

Costa on whether he'll feature at the weekend:
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"Of course I will play against Arsenal. I am certain."

"I played 90 minutes [in Lisbon] and now I can have a rest. I do not see a problem."

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— via the Mirror

I can't see him not starting.

Arsenal's Alexis Sánchez doubtful for Chelsea clash after Galatasaray horror challenge:
Alexis Sánchez is a doubt for Arsenal's crucial clash with Chelsea on Sunday after being forced off early against Galatasaray in this evening's Champions League clash
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/517665/Alexis-Sanchez-Arsenal-Injury-Chelsea-Clash-Premier-lEague-Worry-Latest

Good news for us.

So I think we'll see something like:

Kick wrote:So I think we'll see something like:

Cheesy
Chambers Mert Kos Gibbs
Flamini Wilshere
Chamberlin Ozil Cazorla
Welbeck

Let's hope Wenger hasn't completely wised up just yet

Meh, I can't imagine he'll have much of a game with Matic around.

Their defence still looks poor and their pivot will need to have a fantastic game to stop us.

Let's hope their big win last night will renew BB's faith in his system and he'll come to attack

yes.

Chelsea's John Terry sends warning shot to Arsenal claiming Cesc Fàbregas is in top form:
Blues captain John Terry says Cesc Fàbregas is in top form and is gunning for Arsenal
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/402727/Chelsea-John-Terry-Cesc-Fabregas-Arsenal

"It was a big statement getting Cesc. It sent shockwaves in the Premier League."

"He has made a huge impact. I know you kind of expect that from him but most of our chances come from him opening up defences."

"Not a lot of people can see the passes he does let alone make it."

"He has been a great addition to us and long may he continue opening up defences. I don't know how much he is looking forward to playing Arsenal — you will have to ask him."

"But we are top of the League and it's where we want to be. We want to continue playing."

I don't think anyone needs to say it, they know.