Arsenal v Chelsea Preview, Line-up and Score Prediction

So the big day has finally arrived and we are all off to Wembley to watch the big showdown between the winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup holders. Chelsea and Arsenal have had a great rivalry over the years, and after a long sequence of bad results against the Blues, Arsenal finally came good and destroyed our rivals 3-0 at the Emirates in the first meeting last season.

But Chelsea got their revenge in the return leg and were leading 3-0 until we got a last-minute consolation goal, and the Blues never looked back as they went on to easily win the Premier League. In the FA Cup Final, we were the only team that could stop Chelsea winning the coveted Double, and not one pundit believed we could stop Antonio Conte’s triumphant side but we duly came from behind to deny them their second piece of silverware, and claim our third FA Cup in the space of four years.

We met again in pre-season with Chelsea ending up 3-0 winners again in the searing heat of China, so it is obviously our turn to win this time around! We have also met twice before in the Community Shield, with our nemesis Didier Drogba beating us in the first game (2005), and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain winning it for us in the last meeting in 2015. It is also worth noting that Chelsea have lost their last three Community Shields, while Arsenal have incredibly won their last EIGHT matches played at Wembley. Surprisingly Alexis Sanchez has played at Wembley 6 times and scored 7 goals! Can he do it again today?

Both teams will start the season with new strikers as Chelsea have replaced the hated Costa with Alvaro Morata and Wenger has brought in our record signing of Alexandre Lacazette. Conte is sure that Arsenal will be one of his biggest rivals this season. “Arsenal are a potential rival this season. I consider Arsenal as one of the six teams that are ready to fight for the title.” Conte said.

“Arsenal have a really good squad. They have the same potential as last season when they were prepared (had a squad big enough) to play in the League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

“They haven’t lost players and they have bought Lacazette. They have improved because they have kept the same squad as last season.

“They have players like Ozil and Sanchez, a lot of good players and for sure they’re a good team.”

Arsene Wenger returned the compliment, but is hoping for another win. “For us, it is just a good opportunity to repeat the performance from the FA Cup final.” Le Prof said.

“I would say that Chelsea look like they have kept the basis of 95% of their squad. They have added Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is a very strong player, a strong ball-winner, similar to Nemanja Matic, maybe less of a distance runner but more of an impact player – but certainly they will fight for the championship again.

“They have replaced Costa with Morata. Morata is maybe less of a goalscorer than Costa, but he can score and provide as well.”

So who will be playing for Arsenal today? It is not yet certain if Sanchez will play, but we all know that he hates watching from the bench so I think he will start, and both our new signings, Kolasinac and Lacazette should both feature. Laurent Koscielny is suspended for the first Premier League games but can play today. We have already discussed our best Arsenal XI for today and here is the very strong team we have gone for….

Cech
Holding, Koscielny, Monreal
Chamberlain, Elneny, Ramsey, Kolasinac
Walcott, Alexis, Ozil

Wenger gave an update on Ozil and Ramsey’s injuries. “We have basically everyone available to choose from on Sunday and today in training we didn’t have Ozil, but he should be alright, and Ramsey, who should be alright as well. Some players are just coming back like Alexis and Mustafi, and I haven’t decided yet if I will involve them or not.

“Ramsey had a little muscular problem, and Ozil a a little ankle problem. They will train on Saturday.”

Wenger is very keen to get a fast start to the season and a win here will set us up with confidence. The good news is that Eden Hazard and new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko are not match fit yet.

So I’m going for another Arsenal win today, although I think it will be tight. A repeat of the Cup Final is expected with Arsenal winning 2-1 again.

What do you think?

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18 Comments

  1. Here we go again…. 1 week to the season start, and we havent signed the needed players. First 5 matches, 7 points, title gone. Same old, same old..

  2. We have a match in 5 days. Given Alexis hasn’t played yet after returning a few days ago I doubt he is going to start! I doubt many players who will be looking to start next Friday will be playing all of today.

  3. i wish chelsea could end in 15position this time.they will be playing championsleague but we are still short of new players.chelsea should sing up to four and fast too

  4. No Xhaka? Thought Ramsey was a doubt? I am worried about our prep. I don’t expect a close game. Either we win comofrtable or lose convincingly. If we start Giroud and Laca we will lose.

  5. I didnt see Ramsey and Ozil in the training pictures yesterday. I don´t know why. But people saying we should rest players for leicester seriously. This is the community shield. I want to see my team climb the famous Wembly stair and lift that Shield. No rotation, we need key players to start getting 75 mins plus. We don´t have any more friendlies. The season has started.

    If evreyone is fit

    ——————-Cech————————–
    —-Koscielny——-Per——–Monreal

    OX———-Rambo—–Xhaka——Kolasinac

    —————-Ozi——Sanchez———————–

    ——————Lacazette——————————-

    If Injuries (Ozil and Ramsey) and lack of fitness (Sanchez)

    ””””””””””””’Cech———————————–
    ——-Koscielny———–Per————Monreal

    Bellerin———Elneny———-Xhaka——Kolasanic

    ——————-OX———–Wlbeck———————-

    ————————Lacazette——————————–

    1. Wenger said on Friday…”We have basically everyone available to choose from on Sunday and today in training we didn’t have Ozil, but he should be alright, and Ramsey, who should be alright as well. Some players are just coming back like Alexis and Mustafi, and I haven’t decided yet if I will involve them or not.

      “Ramsey had a little muscular problem, and Ozil a a little ankle problem. They will train on Saturday.”

  6. Arsenal won the FA Cup final because of Welbeck’s work rate, bravery and dribblings upfront. I wish to see him in the front again with Lacazette and Iwobi supporting him, since Sanchez is still not ready.

    Is Coquelin injured? If yes, Elneny can play in the midfield with Ramsey.

  7. We need a really strong start. Bring all the big guns out and test them. I would start Laca, Ozil and Sanchez to test the combination.

  8. . . . ‘ a very strong team’? With Ramsey and Elneny in midfield? I have my doubts but if that’s the team I hope they prove me wrong.

    1. They won’t … Just have to,play the best available 11 at least in first 45 as a warm up to Friday … So would try ox or Iwobi as the b2b midfielder as Ramsey or elneny are bench quality at best

      Holding mustafi kos
      Bellerin ox xhaka kolas
      Ozil
      Laca Sanchez

  9. isn’t kos suspended?

    holding per monreal
    ox xhaka beilik kola
    ozil iwobi
    laca

    don’t risk sanchez, mustafi, bellerin
    don’t ever play ramsey and walcott

    1. Kos isn’t banned for this game, it’s the first two league games he misses on this occasion, the Community Shield is classed as a friendly.

  10. Off topic.. .Micheal Owen predicts Lacazette golden boot winner 2017/2018 season _ News. Strange to hear Owen say something positive about arsenal. Well I’m not surprised. In a season when PSG knocked Barcelona with a £198m purse . Sanogo realising his level. Freddy Adu rejected on trial in Poland. Hmmmmm. Got me thinking. Maybe this is Arsenal year. Like community shield winner. FA cup winner. Europa winner and wait for it. ………..EPL champion. Wake me up when the season is over.

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