Arsenal make the trip across London today to take on Chelsea in the first of two legs as we look to secure a place in the final of the Carabao Cup.
This will be a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final, in which our side defeated the already crowned Premier League champions of last term, and the fact that Antonio Conte has only managed one competitive win over Arsene Wenger in six encounters should leave us with some confidence.
Many pundits and former players alike are already writing off our chances tonight, with our defence looking shaky in recent weeks, and our form matches that, but Wenger will be putting out a strong side today despite knowing that a draw could well be enough to set us up to win on aggregate.
We look set to take on Chelsea without Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi, while manager Arsene Wenger will also continue his touchline ban. There doesn’t appear to be any new absentees from our squad, and a number of changes is expected to be made to the side which started the weekend’s tie against Nottingham Forest.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Bellerin Chambers Koscielny Maitland-Niles
Wilshere Elneny Iwobi
Ozil Lacazette Welbeck
This team is far from guaranteed with little known of Arsene Wenger’s chosen formation or system as he most likely attempts to try not to lose the game, more than make an attempt to win it.
I can see Wenger adopting a very cautious approach to the match in order to go all out to win at the Emirates. Chelsea on the other hand should be looking to attack, and that could well open them up on the counter.
I’d be reservedly happy with a 2-1 loss in the grand scheme of things, but I can see us coming away with a 1-1 draw, leaving all to play for at the Emirates in two weeks time.
Should a 2-1 loss be good enough to keep our hopes alive? Can we deny Conte a second win in seven attempts?
Pat J
As long as we score and don’t concede more than 2. This Mickey Mouse cup and the Europa League are our only chance of winning silverware.
Oh and the Premier League match is on Sunday, so no need to rotate players. For years we played CL on Wednesday and PL on Sunday so there’s plenty of time to rest for players.
You know what, who even cares? What is the difference? Its not like we are going anywhere as a club. Theres no excitement and ambition. Its not about winning silverware or beating Real and barca, its about showing ambition and trying to go up. And I must say that almost every club on the planet has more ambition in that sense compared to arsenal. Look at leeds even! Liverpool never stopped wanting more even though they were shit for so long!
No mustafI koscienly or kolasinac.
No ramsey or ozil
5 2 to chelsea.
Morata must have learnt from his mistakes
Or maybe 6 1 just incase.
Hazard is gonna run riot
I want to see 4-3-3 tonight like what the author predicted, but I think Wenger would use 3-4-2-1 again:
Ospina
Chambers Koscielny Holding
Bellerin Elneny Wilshere Maitland-Niles
Ozil Sanchez
Lacazette
Win or lose does not matter for me, as long as they show an entertaining football. Because it is just a League Cup match and the upcoming Premier League match is more important to keep the top 4 position hope alive.
Like Man City Chelsea has
played their top 15 players
all season so are very tired.
Arsenal has played 2 separate squads so is much fresher.
Bristol City almost beat a tired Man City at the Etihad
so a fresh Arsenal can beat Chelsea I feel.
Spurs and Liverpool meanwhile will be freshening up.
A fresh Liverpool this weekend are on track to beat
a tired City stopping City’s unbeaten run.
I’d love nothing more than for us to come away with a win! But I just don’t see it happening. Then we’ll have to listen to the Chelsea fans singing ‘there’s only one team in London’ ?
Chelsea 5 – Arsenal 0
Wenger blames someone else but himself and begins his post match press conference with the word ‘look’ and points out how we have played exceptionally well recently
i hope we have for once a fair referee,for a change.the competition anyway with this fraud of a team called Chelsea is unfair….They are spending ,the last 15 YEARS , a hell amount of money which make our encounters,with them, sounds like DAVID and GOLIATH.And some fans on here are not seeing (or they don’t want to see)the bigger picture.
Even though if wenger is at fault in many aspects.
Agree or not Chelsea is a better team than arsenal
Difficult to call.
If Moratta had converted his chances last week Chelsea would have ended up winning at least 6-2.
Can’t call this one as both teams’ first 11 is uncertain.
You would HOPE that the Arsenal players will go out all buns blazing’ to make up for the FA cup loss. However, given how bad our defence is even with the regulars it only points towards a Chelsea win. One thing is for certain. Chelsea’s defence would have learnt from conceding two goals against Arsenal, but wouldArsenal haven learnt in return? Unlikely.
Chelsea 3 – 1 Arsenal
Please, take far away iwobi from line up
Every time i see iwobi in line up, arsenal will lose is always ringing in my head…
I can see us getting a draw tonight and hopefully a win at the Emirates. Just need a good start, silence the Chavscum. Safe journey back those that go.
For F sake Gooners – stop the doom and gloom
Last match with Chelsea was one of the best of the season. We will be playing with a vastly different team to that which lost at Forest
We totally have a chance to win this. Hate the negativity – if you support Arsenal cheer for your team with every kick!!!
COYA!
Simon, perception is always interesting.
I agree, the Chelsea match was one of the best ‘entertaining’ games of the season but only because Arsenal’s defending was absolutely horrific. We were lucky not have lost at least 6 – 2 (at home!!).
Wenger playing the ‘league’ first 11 is no guarantee, either.
I fear, if Moratta plays, he will not be so wasteful as he was last week.