Closed Chelsea v Arsenal

[Lawrence Lim 6]

Last year during Arsene Wenger 1000^th game in charge of the Gunners, Chelsea beat Arsenal 6-0.

In 2005 during Arsene Wenger 500^th game in charge, Chelsea beat Arsenal 1-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Drogba’s goal.

This Sunday’s game comes on the week that Arsene Wenger celebrate his 18^th year birthday of being appointed Arsenal boss.

In 11 games between Arsene Wenger and Mourinho, Chelsea has not lost a single game (6 wins and 5 draws).

I think Chelsea will beat Arsenal by 2 goal margin.

[Styles 9,790]

Arsenal vice-captain Per Mertesacker has warned Chelsea the Gunners are ready to "try new things" when they head to the Barclays Premier League leaders on Sunday boosted by their European success.

"We know we can do better than the two consecutive seasons (at Chelsea) before and I think we will try new things on Sunday to get a better result than last year."

They're going to try to defend this time round.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

They're going to try to defend this time round.

I saw them pressing galatasaray high up the pitch.

Maybe that's what they are trying to adopt. We'll see if they are better than us at it

[magic weeds 446]

I saw them pressing galatasaray high up the pitch.

Maybe that's what they are trying to adopt. We'll see if they are better than us at it

Yes. But IMO, Galatasaray were just poor. Playing with 3 at the back. They changed their formation in the second half and suddenly started causing a few problems.

[ChelseaFC12 134]

Yeah Arsenal were exposed defensively by Gala several times...

[Barbara 15,149]

I think we could win this match, but I don't expect it to be as easy as it was last season, regardless of how many injured/suspended players they might have.

They're confident and motivated after spanking Galatasaray yesterday and I think Arsene won't be as stupid and stubborn as he's been the past few years. There's so much raping from Mourinho one can endure before trying something else. I think the spanking at his 1000th match as an arsenal player maybe was a wake up call to him. I expect him to be more cautious.

can still see us winning though.

They're going to try to defend this time round.

yeah, they're trying to cut their losses and as Per said they'll try to improve from last year. Instead of losing by 6 they'll lose only by three this time, Diego hat-trick with Cesc assists hat-trick. It's written in the stars

[didierforever 7,349]

I think we could win this match, but I don't expect it to be as easy as it was last season, regardless of how many injured/suspended players they might have.

They're confident and motivated after spanking Galatasaray yesterday and I think Arsene won't be as stupid and stubborn as he's been the past few years. There's so much raping from Mourinho one can endure before trying something else. I think the spanking at his 1000th match as an arsenal player maybe was a wake up call to him. I expect him to be more cautious.

can still see us winning though.

yeah, they're trying to cut their losses and as Per said they'll try to improve from last year. Instead of losing by 6 they'll lose only by three this time, Diego hat-trick with Cesc assists hat-trick. It's written in the stars

you are giving wenger way to much respect. after the 6-0 thumping, they lost 3-0 to everton which was as massive a humiliation specially cos arsenal could have lost their 4th spot if everton had not self destroyed.

they will play the same way and try to play their attacking brand of football. there is a reason why its been 11 winless matches for the voyuer. i have no doubt its going to be 12th too and that we would win it convincingly.

[Victor Von Doom 258]

you are giving wenger way to much respect. after the 6-0 thumping, they lost 3-0 to everton which was as massive a humiliation specially cos arsenal could have lost their 4th spot if everton had not self destroyed.

they will play the same way and try to play their attacking brand of football. there is a reason why its been 11 winless matches for the voyuer. i have no doubt its going to be 12th too and that we would win it convincingly.

This is v true.

Wenger is the most stubborn manager in football, he won't change the style of play under any circumstances

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Match Preview Here by @Chelsea Legend 11

[robdog 2,084]

This is v true.

Wenger is the most stubborn manager in football, he won't change the style of play under any circumstances

You are so on point. Le Voyeur will not change:

"We conceded too many goals in some of these games," Wenger said. "But overall our policy is to try to play our game because it's the qualities of our players." - Wenger on playing his way

[Victor Von Doom 258]

LOL

[thehappyone 140]

Living in north london this is my favourite game of the season. I'm hoping we win 6 - 0 but my head tells me it will be 8 - 0.

[robdog 2,084]

Any comedy(arsenal forum) link? Lol

I grabbed this link from the Good Folks on the Shed End. Also I have been following what gooners have been tweeting about. They are not looking forward to this match. They know what time it is.

[The_Flash 1,144]

Just our luck that Wellbeck suddenly finds some form as we are about to play Arsenal.

We need to be slightly stronger at the back than we have been.

[Whiskey 173]

I think this is what we will see:

Thibaout

Iva - Cahill - Terry - Azpi

Ramires - Matic - Fabregas

Willian - Costa - Hazard

Prediction:

1-0

1-1

2-1

3-1

[thehappyone 140]

Prediction:

1-0

1-1

2-1

3-1

I think you are counting only the costa goals

[robdog 2,084]

Just our luck that Wellbeck suddenly finds some form as we are about to play Arsenal.

We need to be slightly stronger at the back than we have been.

We do have consecutive cleans sheets. it has been approving.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Its hard to imagine Wenger changing his style of play but if they play as cavalier as they have in recent matches it will play right into what we do better than any team in Europe at the moment.

We've scored 15 goals from open play this year which represents a third of the amount we got last season (44). When I watched the Tottenham game all I kept thinking was that midfield is so damn open! if they give Matic, Cesc, Hazard, Willian and Oscar that sort of space to exploit its gonna be nasty! Nevermind that the goal pig is always hungry...

Arsenal will almost have to change the way they play in order to get something out of this, the question is do they possess the players to sit a bit deeper and wait for opportunities to present themselves? I'm not entirely convinced they do with all the injuries they have so it's hard for me not to see Chelsea role them over.

It just looks like the perfect shit storm, what they want to do and like to do plays perfectly into what we want to do and like to do. I just think we're better at executing our game plan than the team Arsene will be forced to field.

I swear I'm looking for ways for Arsenal to pull this off and I am truly at a loss. Its not because we are so much better than they are its because they have so many injuries and don't have anything in the middle to stop us from getting into good positions. I mean Flamini is not terrible but who else is gonna press us hard and win the ball? who is gonna help their FB's deal with Hazard and Willian?

If I were Wenger my team would look something like this:

Szczesny

Chambers Mert Koscielny Gibbs

Flamini

Rosicky Wilshere

Chamberlain Sanchez

Welbeck

It just seems hard to believe they will do this but this side is much more competitive looking than the 4-1-4-1 they will likely role out.