Closed Chelsea v Arsenal

[Reddish-Blue 2,344]

Already confirmed lineup.

Begovic

Ivanovic--Cahill/Zouma--Terry--Azpi

Fabregas--Matic

Ramires--Oscar--Hazard

Costa

Can't complain, hopefully Ramires does a good job at RB

[Billy. 2,742]

Begovic, Dave, Zouma, Terry, Baba, Matic, RLC, Rambo, Kenedy, Remy, Costa. 4-3-3

[manpe 10,861]

Better than Ivanovic on current form is not really saying much.

It's saying what's needed to be said - better than our other option. Whether it's good enough in general for a team like Chelsea is up for debate, but Baba > Ivanovic. Give him a run of games and the jagged edges will be smoothed out. Give Bran a run of games and he will get worse. People see potential in one of them, that's why everybody is choosing him. And considering it gives Azpilicueta the opportunity to play on the right, it's essentially like playing with 2 new players who can substantially improve our team.

However, having said that, there is no way in the world that Baba is going to actually start the game.

[didierforever 7,349]

Begovic, Dave, Zouma, Terry, Baba, Matic, RLC, Rambo, Kenedy, Remy, Costa. 4-3-3

GC is our best CB and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Drop Cesc after he finally registered an assist and goal? Come on...

-----------Bego------------

Azpi--Zouma-Cahill-Baba

--RLC---Matic-----Fab--

-----------Oscar----------

-------Remy--Costa-----

Lol FIFA formation but honestly doesn't look awful except maybe Fab at LCM.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It's saying what's needed to be said - better than our other option. Whether it's good enough in general for a team like Chelsea is up for debate, but Baba > Ivanovic. Give him a run of games and the jagged edges will be smoothed out. Give Bran a run of games and he will get worse. People see potential in one of them, that's why everybody is choosing him. And considering it gives Azpilicueta the opportunity to play on the right, it's essentially like playing with 2 new players who can substantially improve our team.

However, having said that, there is no way in the world that Baba is going to actually start the game.

Yeah, but thing is it's never that simple as you always have hope in the possibility that Iva will improve because you know he's better than what you've seen while with Baba you don't know if he can do better because you've never seen him do for Chelsea. So in a crucial game like Arsenal Jose tends to go with players he knows and I tend to agree with him on that. Even if Iva returns to his form of last season (which was still not good enough for me) it would be worth the risk of playing him.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Yeah, but thing is it's never that simple as you always have hope in the possibility that Iva will improve because you know he's better than what you've seen while with Baba you don't know if he can do better because you've never seen him do for Chelsea. So in a crucial game like Arsenal Jose tends to go with players he knows and I tend to agree with him on that. Even if Iva returns to his form of last season (which was still not good enough for me) it would be worth the risk of playing him.

No it wouldn't. Iva starts, we lose.

[Billy. 2,742]

GC is our best CB and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Terry will do better at dealing with Girouds power

[manpe 10,861]

Yeah, but thing is it's never that simple as you always have hope in the possibility that Iva will improve because you know he's better than what you've seen while with Baba you don't know if he can do better because you've never seen him do for Chelsea. So in a crucial game like Arsenal Jose tends to go with players he knows and I tend to agree with him on that. Even if Iva returns to his form of last season (which was still not good enough for me) it would be worth the risk of playing him.

And that's how teams stagnate, we have witnessed it before, wasn't nice was it? Ivan's form has been bad long enough to be permanently dropped, not only rested in hope that maybe he can squeeze a few more decent performances out of himself. Ideally it would have been addressed during the summer and if Baba isn't good enough for us for that amount of money, then that's Jose's and the board's fault.

[killer1257 3,282]

Terry will do better at dealing with Girouds power

I think both of them can handle Girouds strenght,but Terry can´t handle Arsenals speed

[Billy. 2,742]

I think both of them can handle Girouds strenght,but Terry can´t handle Arsenals speed

Thats why i put zouma next to him. ANd we all know Jose will pick JT for this one. TBH as long as branna is not in the back line ill be happy

[didierforever 7,349]

Terry will do better at dealing with Girouds power

giroud is not starting after the midweek debacle. walcott will be my bet. and his pace would simply kill JT. also, in the current form, i dont think JT would be able to deal with giroud better than GC.

[Stats 7,053]

Terry will do better at dealing with Girouds power

No chance Giroud starts. It is pace and movement our defence has struggled against this season and that is what Walcott offers. Furthermore, Giroud is awful when he plays against us. We know how to handle him and he has never scored a goal against us.

[lucio 5,418]

GC is our best CB and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Only if he partners zouma , he is horrible next to terry

[zolayes 14,489]

No chance Giroud starts. It is pace and movement our defence has struggled against this season and that is what Walcott offers. Furthermore, Giroud is awful when he plays against us. We know how to handle him and he has never scored a goal against us.

Im hoping Giroud starts .I worry about Walcotts pace ,, Wenger was an idiot not to get Walcott on last night when Girooud was red carded

[CHOULO19 24,332]

And that's how teams stagnate, we have witnessed it before, wasn't nice was it? Ivan's form has been bad long enough to be permanently dropped, not only rested in hope that maybe he can squeeze a few more decent performances out of himself. Ideally it would have been addressed during the summer and if Baba isn't good enough for us for that amount of money, then that's Jose's and the board's fault.

Problem is we don't have a very convincing replacement. That's why I said had Baba came up with a performance like RLC yesterday we wouldn't be even having this conversation. It's all a balance with A LOT of factors involved.

Of course Jose and the board are to blame. We've needed a top CB and another fullback from two seasons now. That's 4 transfer windows where we've failed to address that.

No it wouldn't. Iva starts, we lose.

Really? Regardless of what happens? What if all of Arsenal's keeper get into a huge fight and they all injure each other and Wenger has to goal himself?!

[Last Sicarius 610]

Just dont let Iva play. Baba played well tomorrow so he deserved to play.

[Miguelito 459]

Problem is we don't have a very convincing replacement. That's why I said had Baba came up with a performance like RLC yesterday we wouldn't be even having this conversation. It's all a balance with A LOT of factors involved.

Of course Jose and the board are to blame. We've needed a top CB and another fullback from two seasons now. That's 4 transfer windows where we've failed to address that.

Really? Regardless of what happens? What if all of Arsenal's keeper get into a huge fight and they all injure each other and Wenger has to goal himself?!

Truthfully, it doesn't make sense why we're having this conversation anyways. Maybe for Jose Baba needed to put in an RLC type performance to play, but that's not how it should work.

He performed much better than Iva has all season. It's clear as day that teams target him and he has lost all ability to defend. Iva has arguably been the worst player in the entire EPL this season. Clearly our weakest link.

I get that it was against a weaker opposition, but still, Baba performed much better. He's in better form, he should play. It's simple for me. It's not just that we all know he has more potential with our team and will be better in the future for us, he's better for our team right now as well.