Chelsea v Arsenal Match Preview, Line-up and Score Prediction

The Blues currently hold a nine-point lead at the top of the table, with both us and our noisy neighbours sat closest to catching them. We both failed to take advantage of them dropping points away to Liverpool in midweek, and this will surely kill our chances should we lose today.

Our rivals have not suffered a home defeat since Liverpool beat them there back in September, but more importantly, have been in spectacular fashion since we gave them a 3-0 beating at the Emirates Stadium, which led manager Antonio Conte to change his system.

We must now bring our side to take on this impressive 3-4-1-2 formation which proved unstoppable for a period, and they can also boast a fully fit squad with no absences.

Our options are not so perfect however, with our central midfield options having dwindled down horrifically. Granit Xhaka is currently suspended for his stupid and unnecessary foul against Burnley, while Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny are all out with injury. This leaves Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely to be forced to fill in alongside Francis Coquelin, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles the only other serious option for the role.

Beyond our central midfield issues we have no other absences from the squad (which makes a change), and while we may struggle to battle Chelsea in midfield, our attack will have to work doubly hard during the match.

Predicted XI (What I want to see)

Cech
Bellerin  Koscielny  Mustafi  Monreal
Coquelin  Ox
Walcott         Ozil         Sanchez (Lucas)
Giroud (Sanchez)

I think Olivier’s form will mean that Arsene Wenger will fail to consider leaving him out of the side this week, but I cant help but feel that Chelsea will be too comfortable defending against his style of play, while Alexis has proven to be able to pressure centre-backs like no other. Lucas Perez has also been thoroughly impressive for us when he gets the opportunity, and I cant help but feel he would be the perfect compliment on the opposite side to Walcott for the Chilean.

The team I expect Wenger to pick I simply cant see winning unfortunately, while a team with Alexis or even Welbeck on the other hand I think would pose a serious threat. We simply cannot afford to play out a draw and have to go after the win here, but hopefully things will go in our favour, and we can come away with a 2-1 win. If this XI starts however, I think we will end up losing narrowly.

Does anyone have higher expectations then me? Can we win with Giroud spear-heading our attack?

Pat J

Tags alexis sanchez Arsenal Chelsea Giroud

15 Comments

  1. yes … i expect wenger to announce his retirement at end of season if we lose this game .. more wishfully i hope the greedy yank will sell up and stick to exploiting fans on the other side of the atlantic where he will shortly enjoy even bigger tax breaks

  2. OSPINA
    Bellerin—-Mustafi—Kos—–Gibbs
    Coq —–Oxlade—-Ainsley Maitland
    Perez—-Sanchez —-Welback

    this is the only way to go forward
    and Track back. Hard working wingers.
    welback and perz .
    Oxlade and Sanchez can provide good pass
    and Ainsley and Coq can do the defensive job.

  3. If Arsenal would be forced to include Ozil for whatever reasons:

    ——————–Cech——————–

    Bellerin—Mustafi—Koscielny—Monreal

    ———Coquelin—–Chamberlain———

    Walcott/Iwobi———-Ozil———Perez/Welbeck

    ——————Sanchez——————

    If Arsenal can exclude Ozil:

    ——————–Cech——————–

    Bellerin—Mustafi—Koscielny—Monreal

    ———Coquelin—–Chamberlain———

    Walcott/Iwobi———-Sanchez/Adelaide———Perez/Welbeck

    ——————Sanchez/Welbeck——————

    It’s better to play counter-attack, which should leave Giroud on the bench. And we need a good playmaker in the squad, that’s why Sanchez needs to be in the center. Ozil is not a playmaker and I think Sanchez is the midfield general we need to dictate the tempo of the game.

  4. Giroud must not start he’s to easy to defend against,it must be Sanchez upfront with Walcott and Iwobi on the wings

  5. I admire your optimism Pat ??
    but not-so deep behind that biased prediction,
    you know full well that our lads will be covered in ? stains after the ass wiping Chelsea give us.
    With our current form mixed with our failing to turn up for the first half and that this being an early kickoff away to the premier league leaders with Steve Bould in charge and Wenger sitting among the Chavs, this clearly has all the ingredients for a Freddie Krueger nightmare on Crack St.
    Stay awake! and as far away from this game as possible.??

    1. freddy kruger: nightmare on crack street?
      hahahahaha
      jokes-
      come on man- when the chips are down (and you havent ate them off the floor)

      what happens? thats right we…

      hello? helllo…..
      anyone?!

  6. I would love to see the very attacking-minded eleven.

    Cech
    Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal
    Coquelin-Ox
    Welbeck-Ozil-Perez
    Sanchez

    But it’s away, so, I might give this a try.
    Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal
    Coquelin-Holding-Ox
    Welbeck-Sanchez-Perez

    I wonder if Holding could do the defensive job in front of the backline.

    Anyway, I want them to play like a cup final.

  7. ozil doesnt deserve a place in this squad- this will be a battle and wenger lets him off too much cos hes mesut ozil
    inconsistent an bottles games far too much

    perez needs a shot in a big game- pacy a fighter

  8. Giroud should always be a sub and Gibbs for Monreal who often looks like a liability. Let’s go Gunners!

  9. I would drop Ozil and put Alexis on no 10 role for this game. Cech, Gibbs, kos, mustafi, bellerin, coq, ox, alexis, welbeck, lucas, iwobi.
    subs: Ospina, ozil, giroud, gabriel, reine, niles.

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