Closed Chelsea v Arsenal

[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.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Chelsea Legend 11, on 03 Oct 2014 - 03:42 AM, said:

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.

Sanchez and Chamberlain will press.

Think they will use this formation:

_________Welbeck

Ozil Wilshere Chamberlain Sanchez

_________Flamini

Gibbs Koscielny Mert Chambers

_________Szczesny

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Sanchez and Chamberlain will press.

Think they will use this formation:

_______Welbeck

Ozil Wilshere Chamberlain Sanchez

_________Flamini

Gibbs Koscielny Mert Chambers

________Szczesny

You really think Ozil will play on the flank? Chamberlain will almost assuredly play the wing to mask his inability to track back.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

You really think Ozil will play on the flank? Chamberlain will almost assuredly play the wing to mask his inability to track back.

Knowing Wenger, yes. When Ozil plays on the flank, he doesn't really play as a winger anyway, and is usually given a free role, drifting to the centre more often than not. Chamberlain is more combative, so I can see Wenger play him centrally to win the midfield battle. Their midfield would be horribly lightweight with Ozil and Wilshere in the centre and I'm sure both will play.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Knowing Wenger, yes. When Ozil plays on the flank, he doesn't really play as a winger anyway, and is usually given a free role, drifting to the centre more often than not. Chamberlain is more combative, so I can see Wenger play him centrally to win the midfield battle. Their midfield would be horribly lightweight with Ozil and Wilshere in the centre.

I can't see that. If Ramsey or Arteta were available maybe, but they're gonna need pace out on the flanks.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I can't see that. If Ramsey or Arteta were available maybe, but they're gonna need pace out on the flanks.

Yes, they're going to need pace on the flanks, but they would need some muscle in the middle too or Matic would bully the hell out of their central midfielders. Not sure what Wenger would choose, but I can't exclude the possibility of Ozil starting on the wing. It's not like it'd be the first time.

[LAB 1,030]

Knowing Wenger, yes. When Ozil plays on the flank, he doesn't really play as a winger anyway, and is usually given a free role, drifting to the centre more often than not. Chamberlain is more combative, so I can see Wenger play him centrally to win the midfield battle. Their midfield would be horribly lightweight with Ozil and Wilshere in the centre and I'm sure both will play.

I think this is a good point. Wenger will at least have given a thought of that once. Must be a nightmare for him dealing with all those injuries year after year.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

So which of Gibbs/Chamberlain will get a red card this year?

[Azpinator 2,325]

So which of Gibbs/Chamberlain will get a red card this year?

But we're still in the same year.

[robdog 2,084]

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.

Isn't Wilshire hurt? I was thinking it will be Diaby in the middle to replace him.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Isn't Wilshire hurt? I was thinking it will be Diaby in the middle to replace him.

He came on against Galatasaray and will likely start on Sunday. Diaby lacks match fitness he'll likely be made available on the bench but not from the start.

[robdog 2,084]

He came on against Galatasaray and will likely start on Sunday. Diaby lacks match fitness he'll likely be made available on the bench but not from the start.

Right on. So who is out? Arteta & someone else?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Right on. So who is out? Arteta & someone else?

Arteta, Ramsey, Debuchy, Giroud, Monreal, Sanogo I believe.

[Victor Von Doom 258]

We'll crush them regardless who starts or who they have hurt.

[robdog 2,084]

Arteta, Ramsey, Debuchy, Giroud, Monreal, Sanogo I believe.

Damn....le arse looks like a freakin' clinical ward w/ all of those injuries. Maybe the club should eat their Wheaties in the morning

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

If I was managing Arsenal I would never park the bus against Chelsea. Its just like exposing your weak-point to your opponent. Chelsea has the talent and creativity to break down that Arsenal defense no matter what level they're defending at. I would personally tell the full-backs to be more defensive-minded and Tell the team to play deeper in our half.

Speaking of parking the bus, Wenger won't do it. He can, but he won't. It would be somewhat ironic to see him do it against the side who are normally the ones who park the bus according to 'most' football fans.

I think we can win and I fully expect us to win. Anything less would be considered as a bad result since its at home.

I don't think we need Ramires or Mikel in this game. Our midfield should be more than good enough to dominate Arsenal's midfield physically. I'm all in for playing Oscar and having Matic and Fabregas in the center of the park.

2-0 for Chelsea.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Bring it on Sunday, why it feels so long.