Closed Chelsea v Arsenal

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea vs Arsenal
PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT



Barclays Premier League
20th January, Sunday 2013
Stamford Bridge
13:30 Kick Off (UK time)

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

3-1 for Chelsea

Koscielny will be out with a red card and to me, Mertesacker seems more vulnerable. What's the situation on Mikel Arteta? They also had to work hard the entire game to get a result against Swansea, so it can also affect them

[Jase 43,479]

This could end ugly once again. Home form terrible at the moment. Benitez has a poor record against Wenger. And we have not won a London derby under the FSW!

1. Chelsea's home form in all competitions under Benitez - P7 W2 D3 L2(DDWWLLD). Have won just 1 of the last 7 PL home games - W1 D4 L2.

2. Rafa Benitez's overall record against Arsene Wenger - P17 W4 D5 L8. In the Premier League - P12 W3 D4 L5.

3. No London derby under Benitez - P3 D1 L2.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

We'll win this game merely because we need to keep our inconsistency, consistent....

[Ankit 3,176]

[Jase 43,479]

At the moment, we are 8 points ahead of Arsenal and they have a game in hand(against West Ham next midweek). IF they were to win here and against West Ham, that gap would suddenly be just 2 points and we'll have a massive fight in our hands to stay in the Top 4, especially with Spurs doing reasonably well at the moment and are more consistent than us in getting results.

[petr.breu 1,618]

Why can't be this an away match?

Anyway, we'll win this one for sure...

[ChelseaUnite 26]

home under benitez

D D

W W

L L

D (D v Arsenal?)

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Feel we will win this. Our problem is with teams that put 10 men behind the ball. Arsenal will be weakened as well without Koscielni and Arteta. My only concern is how Rami and Frank will cope in the pivot.

[Jase 43,479]

Feel we will win this. Our problem is with teams that put 10 men behind the ball. Arsenal will be weakened as well without Koscielni and Arteta. My only concern is how Rami and Frank will cope in the pivot.

Koscielny was only banned for 1 game and that ban was served yesterday when Arsenal played Swansea in the FA Cup.

Another worrying thing is that Wilshere seems to be finding some sort of form. As you pointed out, with no proper DM in the team right now, we might well struggle to contain Cazorla, Wilshere or whoever that plays behind the ST for Arsenal.

[TrippingStep 336]

We need Luiz in midfield.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Koscielny was only banned for 1 game and that ban was served yesterday when Arsenal played Swansea in the FA Cup.

Right. Forgot they played in the cup yesterday. Thank you for that depressing reminder, Jason!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

We need to put Luiz in midfield.

NOoo. We need to NOT put Luiz in midfield. We will get torn to shreds every time he tries to nick the ball and end letting the player past him. This is Arsenal, not Villa.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

NOoo. We need to NOT put Luiz in midfield. We will get torn to shreds every time he tries to nick the ball and end letting the player past him. This is Arsenal, not Villa.

Unfortunately we need, with the selection we have atm. Lampard and Ramires is the worst combination for double pivot.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Please rafa must play iva in the centre. He is the first choice CB. Cahill was terrible in positioning. Ashley cole must put a better defensive peformance than yesterday. Mata please turn up against arsenal please. Rafa no torres you

Qpr had 2 chances score 1 and we miss our many chances. Swansea didn't even have a sniff, we miss our many chances and then give them 2 free goals. Southampton get 3 shots score 2, and we get 20 shots score 2. Please we need to take our chances at home, its getting ridiculous

Our players need to forget the atmosphere (as difficult as it is) and play for pride of the badge.